A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Matthew Good: “UN relief chief, Jan Egeland, today called the continuing humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Asia due to the recent earthquake worse than that following last year’s tsunami. According to Egeland, “We have never had this kind of logistical nightmare ever. We thought the tsunami was the worst we could get. This is worse.” Mr Egeland said only $86m had been pledged of the £312m the UN had asked for to fund the relief operation – and far less actually received in hard cash.”
Blogging Baby: “The “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” program raises money for kids in need every year thanks to the efforts of kids, parents and teachers. Totshop is making the fundraising boxes available free for young philanthropists. I’ve never run across anyone collecting money with these boxes, but according to the website, the program has been around for 53 years and has raised $119 million so far.”
Irish Pennants: “Syria is about to take center stage – in the war on terror. In a report due next week, UN investigator Detlev Mehlis is likely to finger regime officials in the murder last year of anti-Syrian Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri, and an unlikely alliance between the U.S. and France will prod the UN into adopting sanctions.”
Eschaton: “Will Bunch raises questions about Miller’s reporting on the UN. In some too overlooked pieces Russ Baker did some work on this.”
oD Blogs: “I’d like to share an example of how the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, of which International Alert is a founding member, is working to implement [UN Security Council Resolution] 1325 at the UN level, what we are doing at UN Headquarters 5 years on and who will be taking part in our October Advocacy Program next week, on which I will be posting regular updates on this blog. To mark the 5th anniversary of SCR 1325, the NGO Working Group on WPS will bring women leaders and peacemakers to United Nations Headquarters in New York from October 21-28, 2005. These women peacemakers will advise senior UN officials and government representatives on how to resolve conflicts in their countries and fully involve women in peace and security decision-making.”