Be the change you wish to see in the world

UN Security Council to Meet on Libya

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:28:29 -0400

After imposing a no-fly zone this weekend, the UN Security Council will meet today to discuss further developments in Libya.

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/22/1821s627754.htm

Earthquake and Tsunami Hit Japan

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:21:44 -0500

The strongest earthquake to hit Japan of a magnitude of 8.9 also caused a Tsunami which devastated the country. So far 300 have been reported dead, and 500 have been claimed to be missing, the final death toll however, is predicted to be much higher.

A nuclear power plant has been reported to have reached unusually high levels of pressure and is under state of emergency. However, the UN’s nuclear agency reported that four nuclear power plants have been safely shutdown.

Countdown to Zero!!! A UNAGB Event!!!!

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:13:38 -0500

The Northeastern Student Ambassadors for the United Nations Association Association of Greater Boston proudly present a movie screening of Countdown to Zero!

This documentary recounts the history of nuclear arms and their impact in the contemporary globalizing world!

Please join us in Frost Lounge, March 8 at 6:00pm!

See you there!

UN Urged to Take Action Over Crisis in Libya

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:16:33 -0500

United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the United Nations Security Council to take action over the crisis in Libya because of the human rights violations that have occurred under Gaddafi’s regime (BBC.com). The United Nations has been criticized for not taking action over the crisis in Libya which many fear could have a more dangerous outcome than the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

In Libya, there is a growing number of people escaping the country as well as a growing food crisis. The UN World Food Program stated that imports of food have not been getting into the country and its distribution has been difficult because of the violence.

Protesters leaving Friday Prayers were attacked by militiamen and government troops. According to Mr. Ban, 22,000 people have fled Libya to Tunisia and another 15,000 have fled to Egypt. There are more that are unable to leave and many that have been harassed and threatened. He stressed the importance of neighboring countries to keep their borders open as to welcome those escaping the violence.

Britain and France have come up with a draft resolution that may include a number of sanctions, an arms embargo and referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court to put pressure on Libya’s political and military leaders.

For more information, read the article below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12585949

Call to Activists Unnerves China

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:18:37 -0500

Today the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese authorities are cracking down on protests. Notorious for its sophisticated censorship system, Chinese officials are monitoring online sites that call for protests after the historic protests which caused Presidents Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia.

Protests have been spreading to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and China is reluctant to allow the same to happen in its own borders.

The link to the WSJ article is here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703498804576156203874160350.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

South Sudan Experiences Violent Clashes As It Prepares for Independence

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:40:24 -0500

The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission announced the final results of the referendum demonstrating that 99% of Southern Sudanese want to secede from the North. President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir has agreed to accept the outcome of the referendum, which on July 9th, will make Southern Sudan an independent country.

Sudan’s UN Ambassador stated that Omar al-Bashir’s warrant for arrest by the International Criminal Court is being withdrawn as a “reward” for accepting Southern Sudan’s independence (BBC.com).

However, Southern Sudan’s preparation for independence has sparked violent clashes between supporters of George Athor and South Sudan’s army. Sources of these tensions have been the divide over the oil producing region which is in between North and South Sudan; South Sudan produces 80% of the oil and receives 50% of its profits.

Other sources of conflict have been the disparities in the wealth, education, sanitation, food security and ethnicity between the north and south. While Arab speaking Muslims dominate North Sudan there is no dominant culture in South Sudan. The largest ethnic group in South Sudan are the Dinka which make up 11% of the population and the second largest are the Nuer which make up 5% of the population, however, each group has their own traditional beliefs and languages (BBC.com). South Sudan, because of the effects of war, is more reliant on food aid than North Sudan which is wealthier and less reliant on agriculture. Also, because of its wealth, North Sudan has better education and improved water and sanitation while 80% of southerners are without toilet facilities.

Here are the results from the referendum: http://www.ssrc.sd/SSRC/newsphoto/708d033887aed71bd65e2d4d6d2730b0Final%20Results%20Report%2020110206%201512.pdf

BBC.com “South Sudan Clashes with Athor in Jonglei: ‘100 dead’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12430115

Cambodia, Thailand, and the UN

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:37:00 -0500

Recently, the nation of Cambodia asked the United Nations to cease Thailand aggression at a historically disputed religious temple. Both Cambodia and Thailand claim they are acting in “self-defense.”

It will be interesting to follow how well the United Nations deals with a dispute ridden with historical and religious elements.

LA Times Article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-thailand-cambodia-20110208,0,2254769.story

Come To Our Next UNA-GB Event!

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:16:00 -0500

On Wednesday, February 9 come join us in:

Do Human Rights Have A Future?
A Talk with William Schulz, former Executive Director of Amnesty International (Global Issues Series)

Where?: Union Club, 8 Park St, Boston
When? 12:00-1:30 pm
$30 ticket. Lunch included.

Join the dialogue on the future of human rights with one of the leading scholars and practitioners in the field of human rights, Dr. William Schulz.
Dr. Schulz currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., he specializes in human rights policy, including offering recommendations to the Obama administration.

to reserve your tickets and for more information please visit: http://www.unagb.org/signature_events/cal_main.cfm

Hope to see you all there!

Hillary Apologizes to 52 Leaders for Wikileaks' Postings

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:46:00 -0500

Wikileaks has strained some United States relations after it publicized comments about foreign officials in the Diplomatic cables. A few were:

“Cables by a U.S. Embassy official described the meeting’s host, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the man whose hand she was about to shake, as having a lavish lifestyle, his prime minister as dancing the night away in a disco.” (BBC.com)

Hillary Clinton flew to Asia to apologize to 52 leaders who were targets in the publicized diplomatic cables on Wikileaks to try to salvage the relationships that she and President Obama worked so hard to establish.

Because of Wikileaks many countries have been cautious around American Diplomats. Some are limiting the number of U.S. Diplomats who can attend meetings, or prohibiting that they bring a notepad. A few have stated that they fear saying honest remarks around them for fear of being quoted in the Diplomatic cables.

Another fear is that the Wikileaks may affect foreign policy. Some allies of the U.S. have felt deceived. There is a post about how the U.S. puts the security interests of Russia before Poland which President Komorowski commented to by saying, “”I simply believe that very much has gone the wrong way in Polish-American relations. And this can be testified to by leaks from different American cables,”(BBC.com).

Some countries have started to create fake cables to bolster their political agendas. However, there is a greater fear that Wikileaks is posing a great threat to national security because information may get into the wrong hands such as those of Iran or Al Qaeda.

Jill Dougherty and Elise Labott CNN.com “The Sweep: Wikileaks Stirs Anarchy Online” http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/15/sweep.wikileaks/index.html?hpt=C1

UN Peacekeepers Blamed for Cholera Outbreak

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:01:39 -0500

According to a report by epidemiologist Renaud Piarrou, there was evidence that river contamination by toilets at a Nepalese peacekeeping base caused the Cholera outbreak in Haiti.

The UN peacekeepers have been in Haiti since 2004 in hopes to restore stability to the country and helping with relief after the devastating earthquake.

Haitians are blaming the Nepalese peacekeepers for the outbreak and have had violent demonstrations against them.

The epidemic has killed 2,120 and nearly 10,000 cases have been treated (BBC.com).

BBC.com “Haiti cholera: UN peacekeepers to blame, report says”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11943902

Wikileaks: The Confidential Files

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:14:00 -0500

Wikileaks is a non-profit organization that was launched in 2007 and publicizes confidential information submitted anonymously around the world to journalists. The purpose of the organization is to inform the public of “suppressed and censored injustices” (wikileaks).

However, not everything sent to Wikileaks is published in local newspapers for fear of endangering national security and endangering the lives of the people mentioned.

Wikileaks has been in newspaper headlines recently because of its controversial revelations, and recently it has been because of its release of 400,000 secret US military files documenting the conflict in Iraq. The Pentagon fears that the information will be used by rival countries and endanger US personnel in Iraq because the images posted on the site, “do not tell the whole story” and “does not bring new understanding to the conflict”(BBC). Wikileaks has been demanded to remove the files from the internet by the US.

BBC reporter Jim Muir states that Wikileaks has worsened the political situation in Iraq making it less likely for a new government to form.

Wikileaks

http://wikileaks.org/

BBC.com “Wikileaks Iraq War Documents: the Key Issues”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11617892

Human Rights Day

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:54:06 -0500

Sports and Human Rights

with

Dr. Auma Obama

CARE USA, Sport for Social Change Initiative, Technical Advisor

December 10th is International Human Rights Day.

Learn how sports can be used to promote human rights and fight the impact of poverty

and inequity on young people.

Please join Dr. Obama and a panel of leading practitioners and experts in sports and

human rights development, including Eli A. Wolff, Sport and Human Rights Fellow at

Brown University and former member of the United States Soccer Team, and Diana

Cutaia, Director of Athletics and Sport‐Based Initiatives at Wheelock College.

Discussion followed by a networking reception.

Light lunch included.

________________________________

Friday, December 10th, 2010

12:00 ‐ 1:30 PM

John Joseph Moakley U.S. Court House

1 Courthouse Way

Boston, MA 02210

________________________________

Members: $15 ♦ Non‐Members: $25

RSVP now at: www.unagb.org

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:19:00 -0500

The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. It encompasses the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), as well as the thirty-third sessions of both the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), and the fifteenth session of the AWG-KP and thirteenth session of the AWG-LCA

Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. The UNFCCC secretariat supports all institutions involved in the climate change process, particularly the COP, the subsidiary bodies and their Bureau.

The Kyoto Protocol, an international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, entered into force on 16 February 2005.

The negotiating process on climate change revolves around the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP), which meets every year to review the implementation of the Convention. The COP adopts decisions and resolutions, published in reports of the COP. Successive decisions taken by the COP make up a detailed set of rules for practical and effective implementation of the Convention.

The COP serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), which also adopts decisions and resolutions on the implementation of its provision.

Thousands of participants including government representatives and observer organizations have attended previous climate change conferences. The sessions in Bali attracted over 10,000 participants, including some 3,500 government officials, over 5,800 representatives of UN bodies and agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and nearly 1,500 accredited members of the media. The UN Climate Change Conference in Poznań last year came close to that size, with close to 9,300 participants.

Expressions of interest or invitations to host a climate change conference come from the governments of a prospective host country and are decided by the Conference of the Parties.

Following the procedural rules of the Conference, the office of President normally rotates among the five UN regional groups and in 2009 the Conference will be hosted by the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). The last time WEOG held the Presidency of the Conference was in 2005 (COP 11/CMP 1).

At COP 13/CMP 3 in Bali, Indonesia, the government of Denmark extended an invitation to host COP 15/CMP 5. When the sessions are held at the invitation of a host country, it is customary for the COP and CMP to elect as President a Minister from that country.

Following technical missions to assess the facilities at the venue envisaged by the host country, the Government and the UNFCCC concluded a Host Country Agreement indicating all the facilities and equipment needed.

Participation in COP 15 and CMP 5 is restricted to duly nominated representatives of Parties, observer States, accredited observer organizations and accredited press/media. Those Parties to the Convention that are not Parties to the Protocol may participate as observers in the meeting of the Parties.

All Conferences to date have had a high-level segment attended by anywhere from 70 to 100 ministers and senior officials, usually at the end of the session. The high-level segment normally includes an opening or welcoming event with some head of state participation and is partly attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The Sleeping Giant

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:40:42 -0500

Since the conclusion of the Cold War, the United States of America has maintained an impenetrable headship among nations in the international arena.

Unlike a myriad of states scattered across the globe, America seems immune to severe political troubles ranging from precarious installation of regimes, malfunctioning and antiquated governmental systems, and the inability to effectively carry out the will of the people.

And while America’s history is replete with civil unrest and unconstitutional legislation and executive practices, the nation has always managed to sustain its democratic government and provide economic, political, and social support for nations seeking our assistance and intervention.

But the world as we know it is changing.

The United States is starting to see a decline in its exclusive international reputation. Nations are starting to not only gather and categorize their resources; they are utilizing these resources in effectual processes.

China is a prime example of America’s diminishing political authority. China is becoming an economic rival of the United States. So much so, that despite their gross negligence of basic human rights, America continues to maintain an amenable relationship with the authoritarian government for fear of economic upheaval.

Changing relations such as the one between the United States and China shows how American influence in the international sphere is decreasing, and a world marked with mutual understanding is starting to burgeon.

Globalization, the process by which nations and members of that nation share their economic and political strategies and transform social paradigms to encourage the sharing of ideologies, is becoming the accepted norm.

In today’s globalized climate, it is impossible for a state to remain completely isolated; each state has some correlation with another. International and nongovernmental organizations promote linkage between a multitude of nations, and in turn, create a mindset in which collectivity is more than acceptable.

Brazil is becoming a part of this globalized world.

A diverse country with an enigmatic history encompassing race relations, classism, and regionalism, Brazil is starting to modernize its society to advance its status in the world of states.

As far as its urban landscape, Brazilian political officials are renovating its metropolitan setting to demonstrate a brand of architecture unique to the Brazilian society. With each new building, a stampede of middle class Brazilian workers buys and rents apartments in the municipal areas of Brazil. These areas are geographically strategic, seeing as a lot of members in the middle class work in these cities.

More efficient technological advancements have been made as well. In the same areas that are seeing a flood of middle class workers, transportation mechanisms have progressed as well. Busses are following schedules and becoming more formalized. Trains, as well, are connecting Brazilians from one region of the massive country, to another.

Brazilian industries are also sophisticating to meet the needs of not only Brazilians, but to other international demographics as well.

The Brazilian meat industry is augmenting to further produce foodstuffs. Brazilian farmers are adjusting the diets of cattle to encourage healthiness. Advancements in biological technology are also being used to encourage more cattle reproduction.

Brazilian farmers hope that in the near future, their cattle will be safe enough to open trade relations with the United States.

Although Brazil is full of diverse and eclectic cultures, there still remains a separation along class and racial lines. Brazil’s massive landscape encourages regionalism. Major areas like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are becoming cosmopolitan financial districts promoting trade and tourism. However, regions which rely mostly on tradition and simplicity either have not reaped the benefits of globalization, or are slow on the uptake.

Salvador, the capitol of Bahia, is in a rare position in the globalization phenomenon. Although the region remains devoted to its history rooting from slavery, the city is slowly transforming its face to replicate those of Rio and Sao Paulo.

Although Afro-Brazilian men and women line the streets dressed in traditional attire selling foods and goods from the centuries before, a myriad of restaurants and stores accept major credit and debit cards.

Adolescents and adults alike flock to Facebook and other social networking sites to communicate with one another about pop culture.

Cars from other countries blast songs from American recording artists like Beyonce, 50 Cent, and Lady Gaga as they drive down the streets which are paved with cement. American television shows like Everybody Hates Chris are dubbed in Portuguese so Brazilians can understand them.

And in Salvador, where about half of its residents live in poverty, shopping malls like Salvador Shopping and Shopping Barra sell designer clothes and other items which rival American clothing prices.

Salvador, being the capitol of Bahia is becoming more and more important for the entire Brazilian economy. Seeing as its ports are still as vital for trading as they were in the past to import slaves, Salvador’s prominence and significance in Brazilian society is rising each and every day.

Brazil has been regarded as a sleeping giant; a region rich with natural resources and the capability to modernize and industrialize, just waiting for its time to demonstrate its economic prowess on the international stage. The time is now.

Brazil is revamping its political, economic, and social image to mirror that of the United States. High ranking Brazilian elite are fascinated with its advancements in a relatively short amount of time, and are drafting legislation to keep pace with its development.

A pace that I hope is maintained and executed with responsible leadership. Although the United States has revolutionized political, economic, and social thought, its failures have been great. With immense influence comes added accountability. And its this accountability, the Brazil has yet to learn.

Imagine Going to Church in fear of Getting Bombed?

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 -0400

“I had just finished the prayers when there was a big explosion. It was very terrifying. I don’t know what happened later. I just fell down,” 15-year-old Mohib Ullah told Reuters news agency.

Just recently a pro-Taliban suicide bombing occurred in the village of Ahurwal when worshippers were just walking out of the mosque after their Friday prayers. This has been one in a series of bombings of mosques and shrines from the Pakistani Taliban killing many including children.

The goal of the Taliban is to gain power over Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to enforce their version of Sharia (Islamic law). In both countries they introduced and supported public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers as well as amputation of thieves. Their men have to grow beards, their women have to wear burkas that cover them from head to toe and girls older than 10 years old are not allowed to go to school. They also loathe the media (television, music, movies). (BBC.com)

The Taliban have re-emerged in Afghanistan while growing stronger in Pakistan increasing instability and violence in Afghanistan. Although the United States has sent troops over to try to alleviate the situation, it has only grown worse. President Obama’s purpose for sending more troops was to help accelerate their mission to restore peace to the country and defeat the Taliban so that the US could finally begin to transfer its forces out of Afghanistan by July 2011. “[The] violence is as bad as it has been since the Taliban were toppled, with 2009 the bloodiest year so far for coalition troops. 2010 looks like being just as deadly.” (BBC.com)

NATO’s goal is to strengthen the Afghani military so that they can gain back control of Afghanistan and restore the peace. Despite the goals of the US and NATO nothing seems to be working, there is more violence and more people being killed. However, I believe that because they became involved in the first place, it is even more difficult to get out. Leaving the country while the Taliban are gaining strength with a vengeance would destabilize it more therefore, making it more vulnerable to Taliban rule and defeating the whole purpose of the US and NATO getting involved in the first place. I think both the US and NATO have realized this.

To me this war seems to be between the old world versus the new world. The Taliban are a conservative group that is resisting the change that the new world through globalization or other means is bringing into their country. The new world would mean equality for women and men, a democratic government where people can vote for government, technological advances, etc. I feel that the sole purpose of the United States is not to fight terrorism by getting rid of the Taliban and making it democratic because of the theory that democratic governments rarely go into war with each other—but the fact that there is a conservative group that has rejected their influence and it wants to change this. Not that technology, democracy and equality are bad but will these goals be achieved through war, violence and death of innocent citizens?

BBC.com “Attack on mosque in north-west Pakistan ‘kills 55’” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11700795

Cholera Outbreak in Haiti Kills Nearly 300 Haitians

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:15:00 -0400

“A young boy is sleeping, his breathing shallow - his mother watches intently.

Dr Koji Nakashima from Partners in Health, a group working with the Haitian health authorities throughout the country, has spent all day administering intravenous drips to patients.

“The terrifying thing about this disease is how quickly it can kill,” he says. “Patients come in and they’re unresponsive. They don’t have the resources to get here quickly - they come by donkey, on foot. It is a very challenging environment.””(BBC.Com)

While the country is still recovering from January’s devastating earthquake, a cholera outbreak has recently killed nearly 300 Haitians in Haiti. Some of the 1.3 million survivors from the earthquake have been living in tents and living in unsanitary conditions that may have made them extremely vulnerable to the cholera outbreak.

”But children are left to their own devices. They don’t wash themselves correctly and, look, the toilets are right in front of the tents where we live.” (BBC.com)

Cholera is caused by bacteria found in contaminated water or food. Symptoms of Cholera are diarrhea and vomiting that lead to severe dehydration and can kill within 24 hours. What is sad about this is that it can be easily cured through rehydration and antibiotics. The disease will continue to spread because many survivors of the earthquake have weak immune systems.

UN investigators have recently been taking samples of waste from a UN base in Mirebalais because of allegations that the cause of the outbreak might have been from excrement from a newly arrived Nepalese peacekeeping unit. UN and aid agencies are helping in education Haitians on how to prevent the spread of Cholera.

How you can help:

Charitywater.org is an organization dedicated to providing the impoverished in developing countries access to clean water. As I mentioned earlier, Cholera causes vomiting which results in severe dehydration and can be easily cured through rehydration unfortunately not many Haitians have access to clean water.

Doctors without Borders and Partners in Health are currently treating victims of the Cholera outbreak in Haiti you can help them out by visiting their websites:

https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=214&hbc=1&__utma=121179421.691555524643009500.1288050920.1288050920.1288050920.1&__utmb=121179421.5.10.1288050920&__utmc=121179421&__utmx=-&__utmz=121179421.1288050920.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=%28organic%29|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=doctors%20without%20borders%20haiti&__utmv=-&__utmk=153694520 http://www.pih.org/news/entry/access-to-hospitals-and-clean-water-are-major-challenges-to-controllin/

BBC.com “Terrifying race against time with cholera in Haiti”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11615526

BBC.com “Aid agencies fear Haiti cholera moves towards capital”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11643348

Photo

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:19:46 -0400

Be the Change!

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:40:43 -0400

This is the theme of our concert tonight at afterHOURS. Throughout history, musicians have been able to change the world through song and spread the word of peace and tonight, the Northeastern sutdent ambassadors will be doing the same.

What is this concert really about? It’s not just about the wonderful music, we are hoping that other students learn about the goals of world leaders which are to:

1) Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty

2) Achieve primary universal education

3) Promote gender equality and empower women

4) Reduce child mortality

5) Improve maternal health

6) Combat HIV-AIDS and other diseases

7) Ensure environmental sustainability

8) Develop a global partnership for development

and maybe, by learning the goals, some students may decide to “be the change” and take on one of these goals themselves, in their own student groups on campus or in their lives.

Hope to see you there tonight at 7pm!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace"

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:33:09 -0400

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace”

- Jimi Hendrix

This Friday, the Northeastern Student Ambassadors of the United...

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:30:29 -0400

This Friday, the Northeastern Student Ambassadors of the United Nations Association of Greater Boston will be hosting a concert to commemorate UN Day.

The show will feature local acts Supervolcano, Art Decade, and Future Vince at Afterhours.

Supervolcano- http://www.myspace.com/superdupervolcano

Art Decade- http://www.myspace.com/artdecadeband

Future Vince- http://www.myspace.com/future-vince

This show is NU+1 and FREE!