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UN Chief Tours "Alarming" Destruction in Gaza

CitizenSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:01:43 -0800

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon became the highest ranking international leader to visit Gaza since violence broke out three weeks ago. Calling the destruction "shocking and alarming," the UN head said Israel had used excessive force in Gaza. But he didn't place all the blame on Israel explaining: "I view the rocket attacks into Israel as completely unacceptable. We need to restore basic respect for civilians."

While there putting international pressure on Israel and Hamas to maintain the ceasefire, Ban also took time to inspect damage caused by the Israeli bombing of the UN's headquarters in Gaza. Despite the mistaken bombing, Ban told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the UN would help rebuild Gaza after the violence, which killed 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israeli citizens.

What sort of role do you think the UN and the international community should have in ending violence in Gaza?

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Front Page: UN Chief Offers Emergency G-8, Poll Finds 15% Happy With Country's Direction, China's Growth Rate Slows

CitizenSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:56:14 -0700

UN Chief On Emergency G-8:
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has offered to host an emergency G-8 summit at the UN to discuss the global financial crisis. Backing Sarkozy's appeal for world leaders to act together and meet by December, Ban said, "Such a format will allow us to more effectively act upon this crisis which requires a global solution through cohesive international partnership."

15% Happy With Country's Direction:
An AP/Yahoo poll just released found the number of people who believe the country is moving in the right direction has fallen from 28 percent last month to 15 percent this month. Respondents gave President Bush a 25 percent approval rating and nearly half of those in their 30s and 40s are worried about losing their jobs.

China's Growth Rate Slows:
The growth rate of China's economy has fallen for the third straight quarter to 9 percent, down from 10.1 percent in the previous quarter. A spokesman for the statistics department said of the trend, "The growth rate of the world economy has slowed down noticeably. There are more uncertain and volatile factors in the international economic climate. All these factors have started to release their negative impact on China's economy."

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UN Fights Global Warming and Suits by Turning Up Thermostat

LibertySugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:00:25 -0700

The UN has announced an "In-house Climate Change Initiative," which will begin by raising building temperatures by five degrees at the UN's headquarters in New York. The thermostat in the Secretariat building will be turned up to 77 degrees, and air conditioning turned off during the weekends.

During the month-long "Cool UN" experiment, engineers will test energy consumption and utility costs. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has a plan to beat the heat: he's suggesting UN workers ditch their sweaty suits, and wear their national dress to work, a dress code that used to be common practice at the UN.

Critics portray the effort as a token policy, but even if it doesn't stop global warming at least diplomats will relate to their constituents in dress and in body temperature.

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UN Leader: World Needs 50 Percent More Food

LibertySugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:21 -0700

The world must produce 50 percent more food by 2030, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told world leaders yesterday at a summit hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

The UN leader urged nations to minimize trade barriers, and to produce more food. Pope Benedict XVI had a slightly different message, noting that the world already has the means to solve the problem. The Pope said: "hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world which, in reality, has sufficient production levels, the resources, and the know-how to put an end to these tragedies and their consequences."

While they meet about how to solve the immediate hunger crisis caused by rising food costs, world leaders don't want to look like a bunch of foodie hypocrites. To see what they'll be eating, read more.

Leaders, including Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy, President Sarkozy of France, and Iran's Ahmadinejad, will dine off a more modest menu which includes: pasta, mozzarella, spinach and sweetcorn, instead of the usual lobster, goose, and foie gras. But don't worry, they'll still get to sample some Italian wines.

From where I'm sitting in America, surrounded by frequent news of chronic obesity, it's hard to imagine needing more food. The world leaders' decision to cut back on their own consumption may be a signal to those who have plenty, or to those who only experience the food crisis at the cash register, but not in their stomachs. Perhaps we need to increase the supply of food and cut back on demand in certain places.

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Front Page: Myanmar Accepts All Aid, McCain Rejects Hagee, Italy Goes Nuclear

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:56:21 -0700

Myanmar Accepts All Aid: Myanmar's junta agreed this morning to admit cyclone aid workers "regardless of nationalities" said UN officials. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reached the agreement with junta supremo during mission to help 2.4 million left devastated by the storm three weeks ago. The move is positive, if not late. Disaster experts say that unless the doors to aid were opened, thousands more people would die of hunger and disease, adding to the nearly 134,000 reported killed or missing.
McCain Rejects Hagee: US presidential candidate John McCain rejected the backing of Rev. John Hagee after an audio recording of the preacher saying that God sent Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land was published on the Huffington Post. Rev Hagee then withdrew the endorsement, saying he had been misrepresented and did not want to figure in the presidential campaign. McCain faced criticism for seeking the endorsement - he's now described Hagee's comments as "crazy and unacceptable."
Italy Goes Nuclear: Italy announced yesterday its five-year plan includes resuming the building nuclear energy plants. A public referendum resoundingly banned nuclear power and deactivated all its reactors 20 years ago. Growing concern over energy contributed to the decision. The minister of economic development said, "by the end of this legislature we will put down the foundation stone for the construction in our country of a group of new-generation nuclear plants. An action plan to go back to nuclear power can not be delayed anymore. Only nuclear plants safely produce energy on a vast scale with competitive costs, respecting the environment.”

Front Page: Ban Ki-Moon in Myanmar, Oil Spikes Three Days, Farm Bill and Tax Package

CitizenSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:00:48 -0700

Ban Ki-Moon in Myanmar: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has begun his tour the devastated Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar. He is set to meet with military ruler Gen Than Shwe hoping to persuade the government to accept more aid for cyclone victims. So far the government has blocked large-scale international assistance, and foreign agencies say they are able to deliver just 30 percent of what they would like. The death toll from Cyclone Nargis is currently 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing. The UN says that fewer than a 25 percent of the 2.4 million people affected have received aid.

Oil Spikes Three Days: Oil cost attained a new record for highest price for a third straight day, topping $135 a barrel. OPEC producer Saudi Arabia last week said it had raised production by 300,000 barrels per day, but the news had minimal impact on the market.
Farm Bill and Tax Package: The House voted 316-to-108 to override President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill. The vote was well over the two-thirds needed. Bush said in his veto announcement, “for a year and a half, I have consistently asked that the Congress pass a good farm bill that I can sign. Regrettably, the Congress has failed to do so. At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline.” The House also passed a $54 billion tax package. The measure renews tax breaks that have expired or will expire soon and provides new tax relief in the form of child tax-credits and breaks for renewable energy.

Front Page: Tornadoes in VA, Militants Killed in Sadr City, UN Food Task Force

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:47:41 -0700

Tornadoes in VA: Three tornadoes raced through southern Virginia yesterday afternoon, leaving more than 200 people hurt. One of the twisters left a 25-mile path of destruction. A man who works for a tree removal service and had been out for hours trying to clear the roads said, "it's just a bunch of broken power poles, telephone lines and sad faces.'" About 3,000 residents remain without power. Gov. Tim Kaine has declared a state of emergency in some areas. He will be touring the hardest hit regions today.

Militants Killed in Sadr City: The US military reports that at least 28 militants have been killed during battles in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. Intensified fighting between militants loyal to Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr and US and Iraqi forces in the Iraqi capital sparked after militia members attacked coalition positions Sunday during a sandstorm. Last week Muqtada al Sadr instructed his supporters that they should continue "resisting" the US "occupation" of Iraq, but they should not fight Iraqis.
UN Food Task Force: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is setting up a task force to tackle the global food crisis. Blaming soaring food prices, Ban said the world faces "widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale." The first priority to get food to the hungry is to close this year's $755 million funding gap for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). He urged countries pledging money to make the funds available now. The WFP believes 100 million people currently don't have enough food.

HIV Positive Outsiders Banned From America

LibertySugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:40 -0700

People living with HIV are banned from traveling to twelve countries, including Armenia, Colombia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sudan, the United States and Yemen.

China just lifted its ban, as a result of pre-Olympic human rights pressure. Yesterday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged these nations to change their immigration laws - which "uphold stigma and discrimination" - during a major summit on HIV/AIDS.

Andrew Sullivan forcefully advocated for a removal of the discriminatory ban, in a recent Washington Post op-ed. He pointed out that not even leprosy or tuberculosis is considered grounds for inadmissibility to the US. Sullivan wrote about 1993, when Congress wrote the ban into law:

It was when I, a legal immigrant, became infected. With great lawyers, a rare O visa (granted to individuals in the arts and sciences), a government-granted HIV waiver and thousands of dollars in legal fees, I have managed to stay in the United States. Nonetheless, because I am HIV-positive, I am not eligible to become a permanent resident.

Sullivan, a conservative political commentator, explained that every year he must leave the country to reapply for the waiver. Even though he has lived in and paid taxes to the US for almost 25 years, he and his family must face the insecurity that he may not be allowed back. For further discussion, read more.

Since there are already Americans living with HIV, it is unnecessary to "quarantine" this country. In addition, every visitor or immigrant is required to provide private health insurance for 10 years after being admitted. Sullivan notes that tax dollars contributed by qualified HIV-admitees would outdo any cost.

As an American, it's always eye opening to examine the face my country presents to outsiders. What does this ban say about America? What does it say to fellow-Americans already living with HIV, when we make their condition the only medical condition that legally prevents someone from stepping foot in our country?

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World Congratulates Obama and All Americans

LibertySugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0800

The United States has had its international critics these last few years, but last night, Barack Obama had some words for them: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

While Americans witnessed history last night, the rest of the world embraced the moment as well. International leaders and regular foreign citizens alike responded with hopefulness. Here's a round up of some of the best quotes coming from abroad:

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General: "I am very optimistic that we will have a very strong relationship, a renewed partnership under his administration. He values highly the resolution of all the conflict issues through dialogue."
Nicolas Sarkozy, French President: "I give you my warmest congratulations and, through me, those of all French people. Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless commitment to serve the American people."
Mwai Kibaki, Kenyan President: "The victory of Senator Obama is our own victory because of his roots here in Kenya. As a country, we are full of pride for his success."
Nelson Mandela: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."
Ali Aghamohammadi, Aid to Iranian Ayatollah: "The president-elect has promised changes in policies. There is a capacity for the improvement of ties between America and Iran if Obama pursues his campaign promises, including not confronting other countries as Bush did in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also concentrating on America's state matters and removing the American people's concerns."

To see more pictures from around the world, read more.

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Front Page: US and UK Join Forces, Updates to the ADA, Saudi Arabia to Up Oil Production

CitizenSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:51 -0700

US and UK Join Forces: Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced Britain will send extra troops to Afghanistan, bringing numbers to their highest level yet - the UK surge will bring overall UK numbers in Afghanistan to more than 8,000. Brown spoke at a news conference with President George Bush, said the military presence would be increased to keep up pressure on the Taliban. The two leaders also joined forces to put pressure on Iran. They have warned Iran to accept their "offers of partnership" or receive harsh sanctions and international isolation. President Bush thanked Brown for his "strong statement" saying, "the Iranians must understand that when we come together and speak with one voice we are serious. . . Iranians must understand, however, that all options are on the table."

Updates to the ADA: The Bush administration is about to big changes that would give people with disabilities greater access to courtrooms, swimming pools, stadiums, and stores. The proposal would update and rewrite federal standards for enforcement of the Americans With Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law passed with large bipartisan support in 1990. The new rules would have more strict requirements and are being put forth in an effort to meet the needs of an aging population and growing numbers of disabled war veterans. More than seven million businesses and all state and local government agencies would need to make changes.
Saudi Arabia to Up Oil Production: Though President Bush was unable to persuade them to do so, Saudi Arabia now plans to increase its oil production by 200,000 barrels a day next month, the kingdom's oil minister told UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday. Ban said, "the king believes that the current oil prices are abnormally high, and he is ready to restore prices to their appropriate levels." Saudi Arabia is thought to increase oil production by 200,000 barrels a day from June to July. By July, production should be at 9.7 million barrels a day.