Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN Officials Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre
Aid less as nations get richer
"Natural Capital" Investment or Higher Costs and Lower Profits
Climate Change Prompts First Mt. Everest Climber to Act
UN's WFP Calls for More Aid Without Ties
True Number of Conflict Deaths Worldwide is Vastly Underreported, Report Says
China Calls for Empowering Women to Fight Rise in HIV Infections
Jeffrey Sachs: "When world leaders gather at the United Nations summit in September, they can build quickly on the Gleneagles achievements. They should insist that donor countries that still lack a timetable to 0.7 per cent announce one in order to complete the financing package for Africa and other poor regions; that the IMF, World Bank, and other international organisations set their work plans according to the Millennium Development Goals; and that the new donor commitments to double aid start now. The leaders should be guided by the spirit of London that was on display last week, which showed that hope and generosity are the greatest bulwarks against terror and hate."
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Chez Nadezhda: "The Democracy Fund is one of several "UN reform" initiatives that both the US and Annan have embraced, as highlighted in this briefing by Nicholas Burns in June. By announcing the creation of the fund now, with the September summit as a target date for unveiling the thing, it looks like Kofi is giving a boost to the US' fund-raising and organizing efforts. So far, it seems the US has rounded up 25 other countries who, in a letter last month to Annan, have supported Bush's proposal and indicated they are considering providing some financing."
Juan Cole: "Russian Premier Vladimir Putin is pushing the other members of the G8 to give the United Nations a leading role in Iraq and setting a timetable for US withdrawal. As regular readers know, the first part of this plan is one that I have also endorsed. The Russians have explored a role as intermediaries in Iraq, having their ambassador in Baghdad meet with Shiite nationalist Muqtada al-Sadr last month."
Light Up the Darkness: "Updates on the London Bombing Coverage - U.N. Condemns London Terror Strikes - Hours after the bombings in London, the U.N. Security Council "voted unanimously to condemn the terrorist attacks and vowed to bring those responsible to justice." Secretary-General Kofi Annan echoed that sentiment. "These vicious acts have cut us all to the core, for they are an attack on humanity itself," Annan said in a statement. "Today, the world stands shoulder to shoulder with the British people."
Marginal Revolution: "I'll be blogging next week from Monrovia, Liberia. I will try to post three to four times, but the reliability of "internet cafes" in Liberia is suspect at best. Liberia may be the poorest nation in the world. Recent estimates from the world bank indicate that per capita gross national income in Liberia is about half that of Rwanda.... Since the fall of 2003, U.N. troops have been stationed in Liberia to disarm the various factions, keep the peace, and oversee presidential elections (slated for this coming October)."
Steve Clemons: "[T]he battle over Sandra Day O'Connor's seat is only just beginning -- and will dominate the news for the weeks ahead. And yet on top of that drama, we have a major terrorist attack in London -- another tremendous tragedy. That too will take attention and time and calls for the White House to send a constructive, bridge-building personality to the U.N. to strengthen the league of those who stand against this type of violence and want to build an "ideology of hope," to use President Bush's words."
"The Security Council "condemns without reservation the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005 and regards any act of terrorism as a threat to peace and security," said the resolution, drafted by Britain. It urged all nations "to cooperate actively in efforts to find and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these barbaric acts." [More]
UN News Service: "United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today joined G8 summit leaders in condemning the "barbaric attacks" that rocked London's public transport system, declaring a united resolve to fight terrorism until victory."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
Millennium Development Goals Have Unprecedented Support, Annan Says
UN Releases 'Blueprint' for Fight Against Bird Flu in Asia
G8 Leaders Told It Pays to Protect Forests
UN Special Forces Launch Blitz in Eastern DRC