Cebo.org is a collegial approach to information sharing between ethics-based
organizations with NGO status at the United Nations. Please contact member parties regarding the
positions of their respective organizations on matters expressed in this online journal.
December 20, 2004
Posted 10:22 PM
by Mary
Reuters AlertNet - US threatens UN agency funds over report - writer: By Jonathan Wright CAIRO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The lead writer of a U.N. report on freedom and governance in the Arab world said on Saturday the United States was threatening to cut off funds to a U.N. agency if the United Nations releases it. Nader Fergani, the Egyptian social scientist who has worked on the last three Arab Human Development Reports, told Reuters defying the United States could cost the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) about $100 million a year. U.S. officials have denied trying to delay or suppress the report, which was originally due to come out in October. But U.N. officials said parts are being rewritten after the United States and some Arab governments asked for changes. Fergani said the United States had already penalised UNDP by $12 million because it did not like the previous report."
December 16, 2004
Posted 12:24 AM
by Mary
The real importance of the Kyoto treaty: Nigel Purvis International Herald Tribune Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Leaving America behind
WASHINGTON After seven years in critical condition, the Kyoto global warming treaty has a new lease on life, thanks to its recent ratification by Russia. Supporters and skeptics alike agree that the treaty will not solve the climate problem. Its environmental limits are meager, expire in 2012 and do not apply to developing nations, where global warming emissions are growing most rapidly. Kyoto's true importance rests in what it tells us about America's changing relationship with the world and the future of climate change diplomacy.
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Kyoto demonstrates that America's allies are increasingly shaping the international agenda without it. When the Bush administration rejected Kyoto in 2001, it assumed that other nations would follow suit, but more than 120 nations have ratified it.
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While Europe's inability in the 1990s to stop ethnic cleansing in the Balkans reinforced its junior partner status on security matters, Kyoto shows that Europe can lead in other areas. The European Union, fresh from its successful eastward enlargement, feels increasingly confident as an international peer of the United States on nonmilitary matters. Complying with Kyoto may prove more difficult than Europe envisions, but Europe has achieved what it regards as a major foreign policy victory and this signals the growing risk of an even sharper-edged trans-Atlantic rivalry.
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Kyoto also illustrates the fact that the international community questions more than ever America's moral authority and its commitment to universal values, including environmental stewardship. Anti-Americanism is already on the rise in 'old Europe' because of Bush's policies on Ir"
December 14, 2004
Posted 2:24 PM
by Mary
TI Daily Corruption News Full Text Service: "US Congressman Supports UN's Annan, Blasts Oil-For-Food Wrongdoing
VOA News, 14 December 2004
By Peter Heinlein
A senior U.S. Congressman says investigators looking into the U.N.-administered Iraq oil-for-food program have uncovered evidence of massive wrongdoing. The lawmaker staunchly defended Secretary-General Kofi Annan."
Posted 12:45 PM
by Mary
UN Wire: "UN suspends Darfur assistance efforts following attacks
What representatives said was a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle came under fire in Sudan's troubled Darfur region yesterday, claiming the lives of two Sudanese employees of Save the Children and prompting the United Nations to announce a suspension of all humanitarian efforts in Darfur. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced in the region, many of whom are currently dependent on foreign assistance for survival"
Posted 10:28 AM
by Mary
BBC NEWS UK Iraqis win death test case probe:
Mr Shiner said it was an 'historic day for human rights'
The family of an Iraqi civilian allegedly killed by UK troops have won a challenge against the government's refusal to order a full inquiry. The High Court ruled on Tuesday that Baha Mousa's death in British custody in Iraq fell within the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). And the judges paved the way for an independent inquiry by saying previous investigations were inadequate"
December 13, 2004
Posted 8:23 PM
by Mary
Millennium Campaign: "Millennium Campaign goes Online!
Welcome to the online home of the Millennium Campaign. This is where you can find out who is taking action against poverty, get in touch with campaigners or start your own campaign. The Millennium Campaign team invites you to make your self at home. The website thrives on your information; your news, events and experiences. Join us and help us take action to put an end to extreme poverty worldwide."
Posted 8:13 PM
by Mary
Foreign Policy In Focus | Global Affairs Commentary | Congress and the Bush Administration Deepen Assault on International Law: "Congress and the Bush Administration Deepen Assault on International Law
By John Gershman | December 10, 2004
Editor: John Gershman, Interhemispheric Resource Center (IRC)
Foreign Policy In Focuswww.fpif.org
Members of the U.S. Congress who oppose the International Criminal Court (ICC) continue to use every opportunity to weaken the institution. The Nethercutt Amendment (sponsored by Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash) attached to a recent omnibus spending bill signed into law in early December prohibits aid from the Economic Support Fund (ESF) for countries that have refused to sign a 'bilateral immunity agreement' to protect U.S. citizens and certain foreign nationals from transfer to the ICC for investigation or prosecution. This attack on the ICC is merely the latest in a series of efforts to weaken the norms and institutions of international human rights and humanitarian law, an assault likely to deepen in a second Bush administration. "
December 12, 2004
Posted 11:56 AM
by Mary
t r u t h o u t - FOCUS | U.S. Caught Spying on U.N. Nuclear Chief: " IAEA Leader's Phone Tapped
By Dafna Linzer
The Washington Post
Sunday 12 December 2004
U.S. pores over transcripts to try to oust nuclear chief.
The Bush administration has dozens of intercepts of Mohamed ElBaradei's phone calls with Iranian diplomats and is scrutinizing them in search of ammunition to oust him as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to three U.S. government officials.
But the diplomatic offensive will not be easy. The administration has failed to come up with a candidate willing to oppose ElBaradei, who has run the agency since 1997, and there is disagreement among some senior officials over how hard to push for his removal, and what the diplomatic costs of a public campaign against him could be.
Although eavesdropping, even on allies, is considered a well-worn tool of national security and diplomacy, the efforts against ElBaradei demonstrate the lengths some within the administration are willing to go to replace a top international diplomat who questioned U.S. intelligence on Iraq and is now taking a cautious approach on Iran."
December 10, 2004
Posted 8:10 PM
by Mary
Oil-for-Food Facts
Oilforfoodfacts.org is dedicated to telling the truth about the United Nations' Oil-for-Food Program (OFFP). For too long critics of the UN have made wild accusations and unsubstantiated claims about OFFP. It is time that those who claim to seek the truth about the Oil-for-Food program be held to the standard of truth themselves. And it is time both the facts of the program and its benefits get equal time.This is the purpose of oilforfoodfacts.org which is sponsored by the UN Foundation.
December 8, 2004
Posted 10:32 PM
by Mary
UN Wire: "First-ever UN-led Islamophobia forum held
At yesterday's inaugural UN meeting on Islamophobia, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said 'no cause can justify' violent acts executed in the name of Islam and called on people to speak out against such events, but not to judge all Muslims by extremists' actions. 'And we must make the re-establishment of trust among people of different faiths and cultures our highest priority,' Annan said. Click here to read Annan's address. The Guardian (London)/Associated Press ("
Posted 10:30 PM
by Mary
UN Wire: "Annan rejects calls for his resignation
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan declined to respond directly to reporters' questions about U.S. legislators calling for his resignation, but it was clear from remarks made in front of the UN press corps that he was not considering leaving his position. 'We have a major agenda next year, and the year ahead, trying to reform this organization,' said Annan, 'So we'll carry on.' CNN"
December 7, 2004
Posted 9:20 PM
by Mary
U.S. Firmly Anti-Kyoto as U.N. Climate Talks Start: "Published on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 by Reuters
U.S. Firmly Anti-Kyoto as U.N. Climate Talks Start
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - The United States showed no signs of budging in its opposition to the Kyoto protocol Monday as U.N. climate change talks began, a month after President Bush's reelection and Russia's ratification of the agreement. .
The U.S. government said it had 'chosen a different path' from Kyoto, but vowed to work against global warming by slowing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in climate science and technology and cooperating internationally.
Bush withdrew in 2001 from the 128-nation Kyoto protocol, which seeks to cut carbon dioxide emissions by five percent from 1990 levels by 2012. He argued it was too expensive and wrongly excluded developing nations.
Of the large industrialized countries, only the United States and Australia have refused to join the U.N. effort. But they account for around one-third of global emissions. The Australian government says ratifying Kyoto would hike power prices and cost the country jobs. "
December 6, 2004
Posted 8:39 AM
by Mary
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Oxfam raps rich nations over aid: "Oxfam raps rich nations over aid
Oxfam wants wealthy countries to double what they give in aid
Rich nations need to do much more to overcome global poverty, the aid agency Oxfam says in a report.
In real terms, the aid budgets of rich countries are half what they were in 1960, the charity claims. Oxfam also says that that poor countries are paying back $100m a day in debt repayments.
'As rich countries get richer, they're giving less and less. This is a scandal that must stop,' Oxfam director Barbara Stocking said.
If the present trends continue, the agency warns that 45 million more children will die needlessly in the next 10 years. "
December 1, 2004
Posted 9:18 AM
by Mary
12 November 2004
TO:
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General
of the United Nations
CC:
Ms. Louise Fréchette
Deputy Secretary General
of the United Nations
Dear Mr. Annan,
The high level segment of next year’s General Assembly of the UN, which is starting to be known as the “Millennium Plus Five Summit” will be a key moment in history. Heads of State and governments will gather to review implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the major UN conferences of the nineties, renew their commitment to the goals of eradicating poverty and achieving gender equity and take action to create an enabling environment for development.
The undersigned organizations from around the world are preparing to mobilize on those dates to fight against poverty, demand more and better aid, fair trade and debt cancellation. Many other NGOs will want to contribute on the issues of peace and security, human rights, environmental sustainability and gender equity, all of which are highlighted in the Millennium Declaration. The UN has called upon civil society to rally around the internationally agreed development goals and the Millennium Declaration itself promised to develop “strong partnerships” with civil society organizations and to give us “greater opportunities […]to contribute to the realization of the Organization’s goals and programmes”.
We are extremely worried that in your recent report on “modalities, format and organization of the high-level plenary meeting of the 60th session of the General Assembly” the opportunities for civil society participation (paragraphs 20 to 22) are restricted to one intervention at the General Assembly and a consultation meeting months before that. The preparatory process for the Summit is being described as “open, inclusive and transparent”, (paragraph 23). We do not feel that openness and transparency can be achieved through a process that largely excludes citizen organizations.
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"War does not determine who is right--only who is left." - Bertrand Russell
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