Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination is a blow to good governance in Pakistan by forward-thinking people. It is a blow to all women as well. We will never know what changes she might have made in her country if elected in the planned January elections. What we do know is that political turmoil is likely, for some time to come.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have condemned the assassination as a blow to stability in Pakistan and its democratic processes.
Bhutto's assassination is akin to those of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi in neighboring India. Fortunately India has gone on to continue a tradition of democracy, and its current path to greater prosperity coincides with this. Pakistan can be set back for decades if extremism is allowed to take over, with great consequences for neighboring countries and the world.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Kofi Annan receives MacArthur Prize
Congratulations to Kofi Annan, recipient of MacArthur Foundation's first Award for International Justice! The award gives Mr. Annan $100,000 for his own work, with another $500,000 to be given to the international justice organization of his choice.
As cited on the website of the MacArthur Foundation, “Kofi Annan’s life work embodies the values of justice and human rights and the eternal hope for a humane, peaceful world that justice makes possible,” said Fanton. “It was under his leadership as Secretary General at the United Nations that the International Criminal Court was established and the Responsibility to Protect became an accepted principle for international action in the face of the worst human suffering. These critical building blocks of an effective international justice system form a legacy that will benefit the world for generations to come.” Jonathan Fanton is president of the Foundation.
As cited on the website of the MacArthur Foundation, “Kofi Annan’s life work embodies the values of justice and human rights and the eternal hope for a humane, peaceful world that justice makes possible,” said Fanton. “It was under his leadership as Secretary General at the United Nations that the International Criminal Court was established and the Responsibility to Protect became an accepted principle for international action in the face of the worst human suffering. These critical building blocks of an effective international justice system form a legacy that will benefit the world for generations to come.” Jonathan Fanton is president of the Foundation.
Monday, December 17, 2007
UNA-USA Human Rights Day Event
On December 10 UNA-USA held the Inaugural Leo Nevas Human Rights Award luncheon, in association with its December Board meeting. This is named in honor of Leo Nevas, 95, the longest serving Board Member of UNA-USA and a champion of human rights around the world. Paul Newman and his Newman's Own Foundation support the effort.
The theme of the meeting was the UN's role in Darfur. Panelists included Sir Brian Urquehart, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs; Donald Steinberg, Director of the New York Office of the international Crisis Group; John Prendergast, co-chair of the ENOUGH PRoject; and Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service. Thomas J. Pickering moderated. Despite the efforts of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and special envoy Jan Eliasson, peace talks have been faltering and humanitarian needs are greater than ever. Aid is estimated at $1 billion a year for the refugees. Minimally 26 helicopters are needed, but no country is willing to supply them. Activism is required by NGOs and others to promote the needed policies and funding.
The Westchester Chapter was well represented, with Phil Reynolds, Molly Bruce and David and Ginger Stillman attending.
The theme of the meeting was the UN's role in Darfur. Panelists included Sir Brian Urquehart, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs; Donald Steinberg, Director of the New York Office of the international Crisis Group; John Prendergast, co-chair of the ENOUGH PRoject; and Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service. Thomas J. Pickering moderated. Despite the efforts of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and special envoy Jan Eliasson, peace talks have been faltering and humanitarian needs are greater than ever. Aid is estimated at $1 billion a year for the refugees. Minimally 26 helicopters are needed, but no country is willing to supply them. Activism is required by NGOs and others to promote the needed policies and funding.
The Westchester Chapter was well represented, with Phil Reynolds, Molly Bruce and David and Ginger Stillman attending.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
December 10 is Human Rights Day
International Human Rights Day is marked every year on December 10, with activities led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and in New York and in the field by United Nations . All States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human Rights Day (resolution 423 (V)). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
For information about the activities of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, see: http://www.ohchr.org/english/
A new commemoration will be launched on December 10 to observe the 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights -- a year-long celebration in 2008. http://www.knowyourrights2008.org/ This gives an opportunity to post activities your organization is doing to celebrate this anniversary.
The following is the Simplified Version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(Simplified version)
1. All Human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights.
2. All people are entitled to rights without distinction based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, property, birth or residency.
3. Right to life liberty and security of person
4. Freedom from slavery.
5. Freedom from torture.
6. Right to be treated equally by the law.
7. Right to equal protection by the law.
8. Right for all to effective remedy by competent tribunal.
9. Freedom from arbitrary arrest.
10. Right to fair public hearing by Independent tribunal.
11. Right to presumption of innocence until proven guilty at public trial with all guarantees necessary for defence.
12. Right to privacy in home, family and correspondence.
13. Freedom of movement in your own country and the right to leave and return to any countries.
14. Right to political asylum in other countries.
15. Right to nationality.
16. Right to marriage and family and to equal right of men and women during and after marriage.
17. Right to own property.
18. Freedom of thought and conscience and religion.
19. Freedom of opinion and expression and to seek, receive and impart information.
20. Freedom of Association and assembly.
21. Right to take part in and select government.
22. Right to social security and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.
23. Right to work, to equal pay for equal work and to form and join trade unions.
24. Right to reasonable hours of work and paid holidays.
25. Right to adequate living standard for self and family, including food, housing, clothing,
medical care and social security.
26. Right to education.
27. Right to participate in cultural life and to protect intellectual property rights.
28. Right to social and international order permitting these freedoms to be realized.
29. Each person has responsibilities to the community and others as essential for a democratic
society.
30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms ser forth herein.
Disclaimer: Your rights made simple is given only as a guide. For an exact rendering of each principle please refer to www.unric.org. Due to difficulties in Translation, the original Article 30 was used in all simplified versions.
UNA Westchester December 9 event
On Sunday, December 9, from 2 to 4 pm, UNA Westchester will host a short presentation about the United Nations, with questions and answers to follow. Bronxville Public Library, 310 Pondfield Road at Midland Avenue, will be the venue for the event.
Afterward, the Youth Philharmonic for United Nations, led by conductor George Mathew, will present a short performance. The group is a program of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation. It is made up of middle and high school students from the Westchester and Fairfield County areas.
A reception with refreshments will follow the concert.
Afterward, the Youth Philharmonic for United Nations, led by conductor George Mathew, will present a short performance. The group is a program of Friendship Ambassadors Foundation. It is made up of middle and high school students from the Westchester and Fairfield County areas.
A reception with refreshments will follow the concert.
World AIDS Day - December 1 - Westchester County Event
The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.
From 1 pm until 4 pm on Saturday, December 1, the performing artist and survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Marie Claudine Mukamabano, will be featured at a Westchester County World AIDS Day gathering at Good Counsel in White Plains. This free program will also include table exhibits by both local and national organizations involved in the fight against global poverty and AIDS, other cultural and musical performances, and a short march down North Broadway to highlight global AIDS. The event is sponsored by the Westchester Coalition on Global Poverty and AIDS in support of the http://www.one.org/ campaign and the growing worldwide campaign to make poverty history.
The Good Counsel gymnasium is located at 52 North Broadway in White Plains (Call 914 798-1300 for directions). For more info: HAPNY@hotmail.com.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
NBC's Coverage of the Ends of the Earth
I commend NBC for its Green series, and particularly enjoy the Today Show's coverage of the Ends of the Earth.
The series hasn't mentioned it, but their work fits very well with achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially number 7. -- Environmental Sustainability. This Goal has three targets -- No. 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. No. 10: Halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation; No. 11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
The first target deals with the broad issues of environmental sustainability -- and all the policies our governments and international accords need to achieve to ensure that we mitigate the negative effects human beings have had and continue to have on the environment.
Google and Cisco have helped the UN Development Programme to create an MDG Monitor website. Partners are the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Relief Web of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). .
The MDG Monitor is designed as a tool for policymakers, development practitioners, journalists, students and others to: TRACK progress through interactive maps and country-specific profiles; LEARN about countries' challenges and achievements and get the latest news; and SUPPORT organizations working on the MDGs around the world See http://www.mdgmonitor.org/
The MDG Awards Committee is planning an MDG Awards Festival and Telecast, to be held at the United Nations on June 5, 2008. See the website http://www.un-mdgawards.org/.
All who are contributing to achieving the MDGs (corporations, non-governmental organizations, schools, academic, business associations, etc.) are invited to apply and to publicize their efforts. Grammy Awards Producer Nile Rodgers will produce the event. Come on, Come all! Show the world what you're doing.
The series hasn't mentioned it, but their work fits very well with achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially number 7. -- Environmental Sustainability. This Goal has three targets -- No. 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources. No. 10: Halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation; No. 11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
The first target deals with the broad issues of environmental sustainability -- and all the policies our governments and international accords need to achieve to ensure that we mitigate the negative effects human beings have had and continue to have on the environment.
Google and Cisco have helped the UN Development Programme to create an MDG Monitor website. Partners are the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Relief Web of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). .
The MDG Monitor is designed as a tool for policymakers, development practitioners, journalists, students and others to: TRACK progress through interactive maps and country-specific profiles; LEARN about countries' challenges and achievements and get the latest news; and SUPPORT organizations working on the MDGs around the world See http://www.mdgmonitor.org/
The MDG Awards Committee is planning an MDG Awards Festival and Telecast, to be held at the United Nations on June 5, 2008. See the website http://www.un-mdgawards.org/.
All who are contributing to achieving the MDGs (corporations, non-governmental organizations, schools, academic, business associations, etc.) are invited to apply and to publicize their efforts. Grammy Awards Producer Nile Rodgers will produce the event. Come on, Come all! Show the world what you're doing.
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