Disturbing numbers published by UNICEF: "One in 12 of the world's children is involved in the worst forms of child labor, including slavery, forced labor, hazardous work, militant action and the commercial sex industry, according to a report published Monday by the U.N. child welfare agency, UNICEF." Full Article
Day 9 - Amani Toomer and Tony Richardson's Tsunami Trip Draws to a Close
J. Ethan Medley, NY Giants
February 19, 2005
Today was our final day of the trip, and with our planned visit to Ampara canceled, it was fairly low-key. After getting out of the hotel for a little bit, we all returned to pack our bags while Amani, Yola, and Tony prepared for the afternoon press conference. Members of the local and international press came out to hear first-hand about our trip and experiences in Sri Lanka, along with members of the World Food Program (WFP) and representatives from the US Embassy. Also in attendance was Aaron Taylor, former NFL offensive lineman and current ABC College Football analyst, who is in Sri Lanka working to build temporary housing for those in need. A friend of Amani and Yola, he heard our group was in town and came over to catch up briefly before our departure.
Great item on the WHO website: "In the lead up to World Health Day on 7 April this year, six mothers living in different countries of the world are sharing their experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. In this fourth part of Great expectations, the babies are one week old. They have reached a significant milestone in their lives, as the risk of death in the first seven days is higher than at any point in the first five years of a child's life." Read More...
Miami Herald:
Kyoto treaty offers opportunities
BY TIMOTHY E. WIRTH
The Kyoto Protocol took effect this week, beginning the worldwide process of reducing the emissions that are causing global warming. As one of the negotiators of that international accord, I know how big the climate change challenge is -- but where there is challenge, there is also opportunity.
Businesses increasingly are grasping the fact that a transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy systems presents enormous opportunities for innovation and change -- opportunities to offer consumers worldwide products and services that reduce carbon emissions and boost energy-usage efficiencies. Past cycles of innovation tell us that the pioneers -- not the laggards -- take home the jobs and economic benefits.
From a RAND press release: "A new RAND Corporation study finds that the United Nations provides the most suitable institutional framework for all but the largest and most demanding of nation-building missions, due to the UN's comparatively low cost structure, high success rate, and high degree of international legitimacy."
Full Document
Day 8 - Amani Toomer and Tony Richardson Visit Sri Lanka
J. Ethan Medley, NY Giants
February 18, 2005
After waking up to our customary breakfast at the hotel, our group piled into our vans and traveled to a tented camp for displaced families in Godagama. Many people have been living here since the disaster, with the camp still a work in progress. We came to lend a helping hand, digging a deep water drainage pit with shovels and hoes, and cleaning up debris and trash that remained around the camp. Many things are different here, as villages have no form of trash removal, so they simply burn it. While dug and cleaned, some of the villagers pumped a water well that had become too dirty to use. As we were leaving, a water truck arrived to fill their tanks with fresh water.
Day 7 - Amani Toomer and Tony Richardson Visit Sri Lanka
J. Ethan Medley, NY Giants
February 17, 2005
After waking up to a bacon and egg breakfast we jumped right into action this morning, heading over to the Habaraduwa Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, where we packed individual rations of food. The Sri Lankan government has identified individuals in need, and is working with organizations like the World Food Program (WFP) to supply them with weekly rations. Our task this morning was to open up large bags of rice, pulses (lentils) and sugar, measuring and weighing them and then packaging them for distribution to local villages. Each individual is provided with a weekly ration of 2.8 kilograms of rice, .42 kilograms of pulses, .41 kilograms of sugar and a small amount of cooking oil. We quickly learned that it is a task that requires efficiency, as it is important to prepare as many rations as possible, and attention to detail, in order to make sure that everyone gets their fair share. This morning we were able to prepare 285 packages of rice, and 350 packs of pulses and sugar.
The UN Foundation sponsored a program at the United Nations on Thursday, February 17, entitled "One Day after Kyoto: Next Steps on Climate."
Senator Chuck Hagel made the following remarks at the event: "There will always be uncertainties and incomplete information in any climate science or climate policy. But that should not inhibit our commitment to developing climate policies based on sound science. The question we face is not whether we should take action on climate change, but what kind of action we should take. Climate change is a shared responsibility for all nations, including the United States. Global climate policy affects the world's economic, energy, and environmental policies." Read the rest of the speech...
Media Matters: "A promotion for a FOX News special report titled Breaking Point: U.N. Blood Money: Kofi Annan Under Fire promised that the hour-long special would deliver "shocking new information" on corruption in the United Nations oil-for-food program. Instead, viewers were treated to a host of glaring omissions, dubious sources, falsehoods and distortions, smears, and innuendo.
As the title suggests, the report focused on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. FOX chose to target Annan despite the fact that no specific allegations -- beyond the generic charges of "mismanagement" and "lax oversight" -- have surfaced to connect Annan to corruption in oil-for-food, let alone actual evidence."