A short promo video by UN highlighting the efforts of KPK Govt in helping eradicate polio from Pakistan.
A short promo video by UN highlighting the efforts of KPK Govt in helping eradicate polio from Pakistan.
Ahsan Butt aka Five Rupee blogger, explains as to why Pakistan's election into the UN security council potentially means more money in the till for Pakistan. There is evidence that UNSC membership reduces the number of conditions included in IMF programs. The size of the loan, however, is not affected by UNSC membership. With a corrupt PPP leadership reduced IMF sanctions could mean more $$$ for Zardari to play with – LINK
The United Nations is at the moment undergoing a very important debate on the Arms Trade Treaty which more or less has a very direct impact on the lives of everyone, specially in countries like Pakistan where there is an abundance of unregulated arms and ammunition. The Arms Trade Treaty is to control the conventional trade requiring states to authorize any international arms transfer which may originate or pass through their territory. The treaty was initially brought into effect in 2006 wtih a landslide vote in 2006 where 153 states voted in favor of this treaty while the USA was then the only state to vote against the Resolution. The major proponents of this bill have been UK, Argentina, Finland, Costa Rica, Japan, Kenya and Finland. It must be noted that armed violence claims at least 2000 deaths per day, and NGOs have calculated the cost to Africa alone of armed violence is 19 billion dollars per day.
It seems ironic that on one hand the US claims itself to be the police force for the world waltzing into countries like Pakistan trying to sweet talk its way on Anti-Terrorism offering to lend a helping hand [sic] to de-weaponize Pakistan. ironically on the very opposite end the US of A remains remains the only country not willing to come under an Arms Trade Treaty, which would help control and monitor the trade, trafficking of ammunition across the globe
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I was thinking about the process of selection of Secretary General of UN, and why America, Russia, China, France and UK hold the power to veto any selection? I was thinking about the process through which the Pope, who holds the post important position in the Christian world, gets elected? I was also thinking about the process of selecting judges for top positions in judiciary? Also about the process followed to select a Head of Department or CEO in the corporate world? About the selection of leading positions in executive bodies, or Military around the world … etc
One thing was disturbingly common in all! … The individuals which are expected to hold key positions, liable to make decisions effecting a group of people ranging from a few hundred to many millions, are not elected by a process of voting. Instead of electing the figure most popular, democratically, the most qualified and talented individual, having relevant and required experience, with proven track record of performance and character is considered most suitable for the position purely on merit basis. Same is the case with process of making critical decisions, they are made by heavy weights in any department, organizational or state, not by the masses voting to select from a set of decisions.
Now the million dollar question … If selection of key positions in every state department or in organization of international importance like UN or IMF, doesn’t imply a democratic process then why the top hotshot of a country is selected through it?
The United Nations has retracted a claim that an Israeli strike which killed more than 40 people in northern Gaza city of Jabaliya last month on January 6th which had targeted a school run by a UN agency. The attack sparked an international uproar and the UN responded very strongly even the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon issued an official statement while the Human Rights Watch condemned the loss of innocent lives and urged for an immediate investigation
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said “The humanitarian coordinator would like to clarify that the shelling, and all of the fatalities, took place outside rather than inside the school. The Israeli military initially said its forces had responded to hostile fire from within the UN school but later reportedly retracted that statement.
Its sad to see that the UN has succumbed to the pressure from the Jewish lobby, imagine they overlook the fact that 40 innocent lives were lost in this attack on a mere technicality that it was ‘outside’ the school.
Guest Blog by Amer Nazir
I hurried towards the train station to catch the 7:51. I was dressed well – in my Canali suit and my Hugo Boss overcoat. At the entrance to the station, I saw two people handing out leaflets. The one on the right was Susan Krammer, the local Liberal Democrat MP.
She paused when she saw me… and I saw her struggle for a moment though she did hide it well… ‘And how are you?’ she asked as if she had placed me at once without any effort at all on her part… ‘I am well,’ I replied, with my eye towards the approaching train that I did not want to miss… ‘Mrs Krammer,’ I continued hastily, ‘I will never forget your kindness…!’ ‘That’s what we are here for,’ she replied, ‘you know where to reach us if there is anything we can do for you in future as well…’
I bowed, said my goodbye and ran towards the train – but she called after me…’By the way, you look terrific,’ she said. I turned around and saw that she was beaming – there was pride in her eyes…
Once on the train, I thought of her. I could imagine her being a bit indulgent this morning. An indulgence well deserved. I imagined her telling her assistant right at this moment in a hushed tone that I was an ex-asylum seeker – perhaps just to motivate the young man about the moral significance of their job…
International Human Rights Commision has nominated Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik for the ‘International Peace Award 2008 for War against Terrorism. The real problem with Pakistan is there appears to be a complete collapse of moral fabric. I still choose to call him Rehman Dakiat for his endless list of goofups.
It should be recalled that this third Peoples Party nomination is right on the footsteps of Sherry Rehman being nominated for International Peace Award 2008 for Democrats a few months back.
Reading this news report for Rehman Malik – I am utterly speechless, as I and many Pakistanis will cringe at the thought of honoring REHMAN MALIK aka Rehman Dakait {of all people!!!} for the ‘peace prize’. It is yet another example of the political circus being run in Pakistan… I leave this news report at your disposal [and digestion] in utter disgust
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In a splendid speech to the UN General Assembly today the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blamed “a few bullying powers” for creating the world’s problems and said the “American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road.”.
After watching the entire speech I feel Ahmedinjad has done wonders, he presented in front of the UN General Assembly in his casual dressing of open collar shirt (missing his signature khaki jacket) spoke in a very direct tone and in all this he still found time to spread the message of Islam to all leaders of the world. His entire speech to the UN can be read here in PDF Format whilst some important sections can be viewed below which also includes his one-on-one interview with Larry King live
Larry King Live interviews Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Guest Blog by temporal from Baithak Blog
The first-term Alaska governor plans to meet seven world leaders and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in New York City this week, where the U.N. General Assembly is convening. The meetings might help her answer critics who say she is not ready to handle world affairs. Palin obtained her first passport last year. Sarah Palin to meet with 7 world leaders at UN
Here is an exclusive transcript of the one on one meeting between President Asif Zardari and Sarah Palin held today in NYC.
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Peoples Resistance, a group of civil society activists and organizations based in Karachi, is organizing a demonstration today against the attacks on Waziristan, Bajour, Seat, Kurrum Agency and other areas in NWFP. These attacks have killed and maimed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Aurat Foundation and other citizen organizations are also taking part in this jointly organized demonstration.
Location: Karachi Press Club
Date: Saturday 20th September 2008
Time: 4:30pm
Join in and be the voice for all innocent Pakistanis being killed in those regions
Guest Post by Areej M
“In the modern planetary situation, Eastern and Western ‘cultures’ can no longer meet one another as equal partners. They meet in a westernized world, under conditions shaped by western ways of thinking.” — W. Halbfass
I have no words to convey my utter disgust at the hypocrisy of the United States, in matters ranging from International Relations to domestic concerns of other nation states. What is deemed correct for one nation is utterly wrong for another. Why then, would someone please explain to me, was there a need for the establishment of the United Nations? If US was bent upon being the sole dictator of the international political environment, why did it participate in the setting up of the UN at all? As far as USA is concerned, the UN is only a machine, a valid front for its inhumane and unjust activities. It is your proverbial curtain in front of your eyes. The UN is a means to manipulate the international community to buy the lies that US sells through its well established and wide spread media.
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I share with you a very moving speech delivered over 16 years back during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro aka the Earth Summit, which also produced the Rio Declaration. A 13 year young girl Severn Suzuki from Canada addresses the gathering with some heart touching words.
A well written speech and I feel the impact was greater since it was delivered by a young girl talking about her future. The words were true then, and remain ever so true even today.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZsDliXzyAY[/youtube]
In the 16 years since, have we done anything different to change our world !!! Take a moment to think about it, is the world a better place for our children and our children’s children? I fear to say NOT, in fact it may at best be worse.