--- On Sat, 15/5/10, Global Policy Forum <g...@globalpolicy.org> wrote:
From: Global Policy Forum <g...@globalpolicy.org>
Subject: GPF Newsletter May 10-14, 2010
To: avnis...@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, 15 May, 2010, 2:35
Global Policy Forum
May 10 - May 14, 2010
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Security Council
Social and Economic Policy
Globalization
International Justice
NGOs
Iraq
Empire?
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Security Council
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US Observers Question Sudan Poll (May 11, 2010)
The Carter Center which monitored Sudan's recent elections, has questioned the accuracy of the results. The group stated that the vote count was: "chaotic, non-transparent and vulnerable to electoral manipulation." Further, the Center argues that intimidation and violence impacted the fairness of the vote. (BBC News)
UN Peacekeepers at Crossroads in DRC (May 11, 2010)
President Kabila wants UN peacekeeping troops out of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has recommended that the withdrawal begins in June, with two-thousand troops leaving "peaceful areas." John Holmes, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, argues that "violence may spiral out of control if the peacekeepers all leave" - a position also held by many civil society organizations. Some critics allege that Kabila wants the peacekeepers out to prevent oversight in the 2011 presidential elections. (Mail and Guardian)
Israel Will Join Economic Group of Developed Nations (May 10, 2010)
The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development voted unanimously to admit Israel on Monday. The OECD's decision drew criticism from NGOs and Palestinians because Israel's policies towards Palestine completely disregard "OECD values." OECD membership will increase foreign investment in Israel, effectively legitimizing and providing funds for the continued illegal annexation of Palestinian territories. (New York Times)
Cote d'Ivoire: Securing the Electoral Process (May 5, 2010)
Upcoming presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire risk being undermined by the country's precarious economic situation, the xenophobic language used in election campaigns and the current President's decision to disband the Independent Electoral Commission. UN presence must be maintained to provide political and electoral assistance to the country if violence is to be prevented and the fragile state of peace is to be preserved. (International Crisis Group)
The Future of Palestine (April 30, 2010)
In this lecture, John Meashimer discusses some potential future methods Israel may employ to deal with the Palestine questions. The author engages with the possibilities of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, addressing their likelihood and political ramifications. Mearsheimer believes that in the absence of a two-state solution, a fully fledged apartheid state is most likely; noting that, an apartheid state - to some extent - already exists. (Al Jazeera)
Peak Phosphorus (April 20, 2010)
Phosphorus is an essential element to the global food chain, and it is running out. Across the world, farmers treat their crops with phosphorous-rich fertilizers to boost crop yields, scientists use it to synthesize DNA and it is vital to healthy bone-growth. Current levels of phosphorus use are dangerously high, a consequence of the Green Revolution. Estimations suggest that, at current rates, phosphorous depletion can be expected in thirty to forty years. As resource scarcity increases, governments will wrangle to secure access to this vital and rare element. Foreign Policy)
Loose Lips on Iran Could Sink America (May 6, 2010)
As US-Iran relations become increasingly strained, it is necessary to observe critically the polemic nature of American political rhetoric on Iran. The current situation closely mirrors the lead-up to the war in Iraq, as politicians have been able to dupe the public into believing that Iran poses an "existential threat" to America. Unless policy-makers, academics and civil society participate critically in dialogue over Iran, the popular cries for militarism will prevail as they did in 2003. (CommonDreams)
ElBaradei Says Sanctions on Iran will Fail (April 30, 2010)
Mohamed ElBaradei, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former head of the IAEA, believes that the UN Security Council will impose more sanctions on Iran but he thinks that these measures will fail. Rejecting the notion of "smart" sanctions as a myth, ElBaradei feels that the only way to resolve the current situation is to change the paradigm within which negotiations are taking place, from a paradigm of punishment and double-standards to one of sincere engagement. The US and its allies must offer the Iranian government a "comprehensive package" that is fair and assures Iranians that militarism is unnecessary. (GlobalPost)
Renew MINURCAT Mandate or Set Worrying Precedent (April 30, 2010)
Chad's request that the Security Council not renew the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Chad (MINURCAT) is contrary to the state's obligation to protect its population. Amnesty International has warned that if the Security Council does not renew the MINURCAT mandate, vulnerable populations will be exposed to human rights abuses and humanitarian organizations will be unable to operate safely. The withdrawal of MINURCAT in accordance with Chad's request would set a dangerous precedent for the Security Council, which is also considering Kinshasa's request that the Council withdraw peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Human Rights Watch)
Social and Economic Policy
Decent Work Still a Dream for South Africa's Domestic Workers (May 11, 2010)
Domestic workers in South Africa have labor rights protection under the nation's Domestic Worker Sector law. The government scarcely enforces the law, though, and it rarely punishes labor abuses. There are debates about how the law intersects with competing rights of workers, employers and illegal immigrants. The South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) is lobbying to protect all workers, especially women, illegal immigrants and migrant workers. (IPS)
MALI: Farmers Restore Forests (May 7, 2010)
Communities in the interior delta of the Niger River are demanding local bylaws to protect their restored forests and local ecosystem. Forests in the 40,000 square kilometer delta region were tarnished by drought and desertification and are only now slowly regenerating. For these communities the benefits of forest protection are primarily economic. Fisheries, a main source of revenue for the region, benefit greatly as the restored forests retain the wetlands where many fish breed.(IPS)
Audio Recording Captured from Copenhagen Negotiation (May 5, 2010)
In this leaked audio recording obtained by Spiegel Online, Heads of State and chief negotiators from 25 nations negotiate behind the scenes to discuss the possibility of concrete emissions reductions targets. The recording sheds light on the role individual countries played in the conference's failure. The reductions targets, the established goal of the Copenhagen climate conference, were never realized. The recording also reveals how the consensus building mechanisms of the UN process - the IPCC - was disregarded by a handful of state leaders, illustrating the stalemate between industrialized and industrializing nations.(Speigel Online)
The Rise & Decline of the WTO's Doha Talks (May 5, 2010)
Martin Khor, Executive Director of the South Centre, discusses the issues central to the current WTO Doha negotiations. He describes the core of "the Doha impasse" - the lopsided demands of developed countries. The current WTO discussions increasingly focus on market access issues. The US and EU continue to press for new and greater commitments of developing countries in agriculture and industry, while only promise to implement sparse commitments already established in the Uruguay round.(The South centre)
Oil Spill Gives Urgency to UN Oceans Meet (May 5, 2010)
The Fifth Global Ocean Conference took place as oil from the BP PLC debacle continues to surge into the Gulf of Mexico. The conference, administered by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), convened delegates from 80 countries to discuss ways to preserve marine biodiversity and improve "governance" of the oceans. A Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund remarked that better regulations were blocked by assumptions that accidents like the one in the Gulf of Mexico could not have happened. The crude reality of off-shore drilling confirms the importance of integrated governance initiatives of oceans and coastal regions. (IPS)
CUBA: Sustainable Agriculture Moves to the Suburbs(May 3, 2010)
Cuba will bring farming to the suburban areas around cities and towns, providing the science and leadership for alternative, localized models of food production. This approach brings food production closer to the urban areas where 76 percent of the island's population lives. The approach, which will not only provide food but also cultivate carbon sinks, create water basins, and reduce emissions, is based on principles of crop diversity and the use of animals for traction and transport of produce.(IPS)
Globalization
Human Rights and Globalization - Synergy or Competition? (May 11, 2010)
Human rights seem conditional in the discourse of international peace and security. They are often overlooked to further military and corporate agendas. Yet globalization is connecting the world together and communities are increasingly aware of their long-deprived rights. Global connectedness is advancing the realization of truly universal human rights. (Huffington Post)
International Justice
What Do You Do With a Captured Pirate? (May 6, 2010)
In April 2010, the UN Security Council adopted a Russian proposal to consider the creation of an international tribunal to deal with the "piracy" problem. The Council also urged all member states to criminalize piracy under their domestic law and to prosecute pirates apprehended off the coast of Somalia. Many countries have so far been reluctant to prosecute apprehended pirates as such trials carry many legal implications. This article provides several answers to the legal challenges posed by 21st Century piracy. (BBC News)
Commissioning Justice: Truth Commissions and Criminal Justice (April 26, 2010)
This paper by Amnesty International's looks at the work of truth commissions in many countries around the world over the past decades, and contributes to the debate about "Truth and reconciliation processes as a complement to criminal justice" at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which will take place in Kampala, Uganda, from May 31 to June 11, 2010. (Amnesty International)
NGOs
Chinese AIDS Activisit Flees to US After Harrassment (May 11, 2010)
Wan YanHai - former Chinese Health Ministry Official and prominent leader of a Chinese AIDS advocacy group - has fled China, following repeated harassment by government authorities. Despite acknowledging the spread of HIV and AIDS as a pressing national health concern, the Chinese government - which recently tightened its regulations on foreign donations to local NGOs - is distrustful and suspicious towards independent groups and activists, whom it views as potential threats to its sovereignty and authority. (The Associated Press)
5 NGOs Dole Out $33M in State Grants (May 10, 2010)
The Russian government has recently announced its 2010 budget to fund local NGOs. 1 billion rubles - $33 million equivalent - will be distributed to the NGO community through five Moscow based organizations which all possess intimate relations with the ruling United Russia party. Such channeling of funds has been criticized by members of civil society as lacking in accountability and transparency. Yelena Panfilova of Transparency International says that allocation of funds by the five appointed organizations has frequently been questioned. (The Moscow Times)
Iraq
With Eye on Exit, Military Awards Massive Iraq Contract (May 11, 2010)
The US Army has reversed a decision to have three companies compete for more than $500 million worth of work in Iraq as the military begins the withdrawal of troops. The $568 million contract for support work will go to contracting giant KBR under an existing sole-source contract raising issues of oversight and accountability. There is concern over the US Army's continued reliance on KBR in light of the Justice Departments decision to bring a fraud suit against KBR for improper billing. (CNN)
Disposable Soldiers (May 6, 2010)
According to figures from the Pentagon and a Harvard University study, the US military is saving billions by fraudulently discharging soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan citing "personality disorders." In many cases soldiers have no documented history of psychological problems, are deemed physically and psychology fit for service by US military doctors and welcomed to the military. When subsequently wounded during service and seeking treatment, soldiers are diagnosed with a pre-existing "personality disorder," discharged and denied benefits which the military is required to provide soldiers who are wounded during service. (The Nation)
Empire?
Guantanamo and Habeas Corpus: Consigning Soldiers to Oblivion (May 9, 2010)
The Obama Administration's Interagency Task Force, which reviewed the cases of all prisoners still held at Guantanamo, advised that only 35 of the 779 prisoners should face trial. This conclusion is in direct contradiction to the Bush Administration's consistent claims that Guantanamo prison held the "worst of the worst." Further, in the habeas corpus petitions, district court judges have ruled in 34 out of 47 cases that the US government "failed to demonstrate that the men in question had any meaningful connection to either Al-Qaeda or the Taliban." Despite these "impressive results," there are serious habeas corpus issues stemming from the Bush Administrations application of the Geneva Conventions which are relegating Guantanamo prisoners to oblivion. (Truthout)
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