Blog Roundup #50

A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary

Penraker: “In spite of widespread reports of starvation, North Korea has decided to turn away food aid from the U.N. So what if six million more people die of starvation?”

Daily Sophist: “I just wish Katrina had only hit the United Nations building, nothing else, just had flooded them out. And I wouldn’t have rescued them.” – Bill O’Reilly on the September 14th edition of the O’Reilly Factor. O’Reilly’s words flew back in his face when Media Matters for America notified the UN of the crude and hateful comment. He still refuses to apologize but now on his show has added Media Matters for America to his list of people for his viewers to hate.”

Dwight Freisen: “Watch and truly listen to this brief message from Kofi Annan. Many people around the world are observing a minute of silence in prayer for peace at noon today.”

Lilac Phonograph: “Today is the United Nations International Day of Peace. It was originally established in 1981 but not fixed to a specific date until – ironically – the morning of 11 September 2001, largely thanks to the work of Jeremy Gilley from Peace One Day. Please take a moment to read Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Message and reflect on the number of people who will be maimed, killed or made to suffer today because of conflict.”

Powerpundit: “Epidemic” in Indonesia: “JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia called an outbreak of bird flu in its teeming capital an epidemic on Wednesday as health and agricultural experts from around the world converged on Jakarta to help control the virus. The U.N. World Health Organization last week warned bird flu was moving toward a form that could be passed between human beings and the world had no time to waste to prevent a pandemic, an outbreak that spreads far more widely than an epidemic.” And if it strikes here, we’re not even close to being ready to deal with it.”

Two Peas, no Pod: “Bill O’Reilly, host of Talking Point and The Radio Factor, commented on his radio program that he wished hurricane Katrina had hit the UN Headquarters in New York, rather than New Orleans. This on the day the World Summit opened. Nice work Bill. The UN Foundation has called for an apology and retraction. I hope they’re not holding their breath.”