Monthly Archives: November 2009
Happy 20th Birthday, Convention on the Rights of the Child
The most ratified treaty in the world turns 20 years old today. On November 20 1989, the Convention on the Rights of Child entered into force. Today only two countries remain outside the treaty: Somalia…and the United States. (Somalia is without a functioning government. The United States is without a functioning Senate.) To mark the anniversary, UNICEF released a report today, “State of the World’s Children, 2009″ and UNICEF director Ann Venemen
Head of UN Iraq mission, live from D.C.
At 4 PM (EST) The New America Foundation in Washington, D.C. will be hosting a conversation with Ad Melkert, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq. I’ll be there in person, but everyone can follow the action live via The Washington Note.
Rumors and neglected tropical diseases
It’s nice to see a mystery solved. We just saw some major panic in Indonesia about a treatment for a neglected tropical disease. The Jakarta Post reported this morning that, after a mass administration of drugs to fight lymphatic filariasis, “those treated by the drugs started to die or fall ill by the hundreds.” They ran the story under a headline that said “Did Disease-Fighting Drugs Do More Harm Than Good?”
Introducing the Minerals Trade Act of 2009
Thanks to the work of activist groups like the Enough Project and the Genocide Intervention Network, the term “conflict minerals” has begun to seep into the vernacular of those of us who follow foreign affairs. Simply put, conflict minerals are the few minerals that are at the heart of the war in Eastern Congo. These minerals – which include Tin ore (cassiterite), tantalite (coltan), tungsten as well a
“Cash for Caulkers” and Beyond
Part of the reason that progress leading toward a binding international climate change agreement has been so halting is that President Obama has said that he will not commit the United States to emission reduction goals unless congress gives him a path by which those goals can be met.
Well, today, a new group launched that could be a big step toward helping the United States meet its international responsibilies on climate.
How Internet users can fight world hunger
The World Food Program launched a new campaign, a billion for a billion. The idea here is to link the 1 billion internet users around the world with the 1 billion who are chronically hungry.
-
-
The SC; HRC; DPRK; South Sudan
The SC: The Security Council today held its last consultations under the Council Presidency of ROK. Tomorrow, Russia will take over the rotating Presidency of the Security Council for March under Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
-
-
The SG; Mali; Middle East; Palestine
The SG: At the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna, Austria today, the SG emphasized the role of youth in ensuring a “prosperous, equitable and peaceful future.”
-
The SG; DRC; HRC; Palestinian Prisoner
The SG: In Ethiopia over the weekend, the SG is now in the United Arab Emirates. Today he met with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, where the two discussed developments in the region, including Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, and in the Middle East Peace Process.
-
