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United Nations
Thu, 2016-07-21 21:26
#1
United Nations
Thu, 2016-07-21 21:27
#2
Straw Poll Puts Portuguese Ex-Premier at Front of U.N. Leadership Race
Antonio Guterres clear front-runner, with Slovenian and Bulgarian also on short list; Final pick expected in October
http://www.wsj.com/articles/straw-poll-puts-portuguese-ex-premier-at-fro...
Wed, 2017-05-03 19:26
#3
Dysfunction at the United Nations: The Saudis aren’t the only ones to blame
quote:
Hypocrisy abounds at the UN
One must think of the UN as being a bit like a condominium association. We’re all thrown together randomly, each with our unique quirks and habits. Some condo owners do their best to contribute: they join the board, attend meetings, make reasonable recommendations and listen to the opinions of others. Other condo owners only seem interested in gaming the system: they use the visitor parking spaces, they default on their association fees, they spurn the meetings, but then they criticize every decision that is taken. Over time, we grow fond of some neighbours, and wary of others.
But in the UN, who is who? As Canadians, we rightly ridicule the election of Saudi Arabia to a commission for women. But somehow we find it perfectly natural that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council also happen to be the five largest international arms exporters. Can’t the Saudis and other nations legitimately ridicule the West for this hypocrisy, given that the Security Council’s mandate is to maintain peace?
In June 2016, Israel was elected to chair the UN’s Legal Committee, a body mandated to develop and codify international law. Yet Israel is repeatedly censured for ongoing violations of international law, as recently demonstrated by the Security Council’s December vote condemning Israel’s illegal settlements. In fact, Israel is a repeat offender in terms of international law and human rights, as a 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice demonstrated. Not surprisingly, this particular UN decision was considered shocking in many Middle Eastern countries at the time.
Yet neither Michelle Rempel nor any of the Liberals protested that decision. Clearly Canadians’ outrage on these issues is selective.
Wed, 2021-03-24 02:06
#4
New Global Alliance Defends UN Charter in Clear Rebuke of US Imperialism
https://www.blackagendareport.com/new-global-alliance-defends-un-charter...
The formation of the 'Groups of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations' is the logical conclusion of the great costs imposed upon those nations which have rejected an international order dominated by the hegemonic ambitions of US imperialism. To minimize the significance of this development, US corporate media, has framed the alliance as a response to Biden's renewed focus on 'multilateralism'. Yet the Biden administration has, only further pursued, imperial expansion and used the term 'multilateralism' to render the criminality of the system more digestable.
Biden has escalated the US' aggressive posture toward Russia and China. His administration has also committed itself to the destruction of weaker nations such as Syria without any protest in the corporate media or society at large. In fact, the corporate media has praised Biden's temporary COVID-19 relief bill as a victory against poverty while minimizing the devastating impact of his administration's mass deportation regime and reliance on the mechanisms of private profit to address what has always been a public health issue in the COVID-19 pandemic.
American exceptionalism has been deployed by the Biden administration as a weapon of mass destruction in the battle of ideas. Gone are the days where US leadership was questioned as incompetent under Donald Trump. 'America is back' and ready to utilize 'alliances' to enforce imperialism in a period of crisis. That the early days of the Biden era have offered no relief from the ongoing violence of US militarism has necessitated the formation of a Global South-led alliance that defends the very concept of international law from US and Western-led imperialist annihilation.
Peace loving people wherever they are should not hesitate to support the 'Groups of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations."
Mon, 2021-04-05 20:07
#5
Venezuela Welcomes UN Resolution Calling to Eliminate Sanctions
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15157
"The UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution on Tuesday urging all States to stop adopting unilateral sanctions as 'tools of political and economic pressure.' The text was approved with 30 votes in favor, 15 against and two abstentions.
The approved document stressed that unilateral sanctions are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, 'in particular those of a coercive nature with extraterritorial effects.'
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the resolution's adoption and the vindication of 'the undeniable criminal damage' of unilateral sanctions 'against the lives of Venezuelans and free nations of the world..."
Somone please advise Justin Trudeau, Marc Garneau, Bob Rae, Jack Harris et al.
Tue, 2021-04-06 21:30
#6
laine lowe
Good news.
Tue, 2021-04-06 23:17
#7
Venezuela Welcomes UN Resolution Calling to Eliminate Sanctions
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15157
"The UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution on Tuesday urging all States to stop adopting unilateral sanctions as 'tools of political and economic pressure.' The text was approved with 30 votes in favor, 15 against and two abstentions.
The approved document stressed that unilateral sanctions are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, 'in particular those of a coercive nature with extraterritorial effects.'
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the resolution's adoption and the vindication of 'the undeniable criminal damage' of unilateral sanctions 'against the lives of Venezuelans and free nations of the world..."
Somone please advise Justin Trudeau, Marc Garneau, Bob Rae, Jack Harris et al.
Wouldn't this make BDS illegal?
Wed, 2021-04-07 11:08
#8
Hope not. Besides, Israel is already in massive breach of UN conventions and international law but is protected against enforcement by countries such as the US, Canada and the international Zionist lobby which forces western leaders like Jagmeet Singh to defend its indefensible racist genocide.
https://bdsmovement.net/tags/united-nations
Just Peace Advocates Join 550+ Organisations Call to UN Human Rights Council Including Sanctions
https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/
"Accordingly we reiterate our calls on:
The international community to resort to all available mechanisms to achieve international justice and accountability, and in particular, to intervene immediately to sanction Israel..."
PS 'all available mechanisms' must also surely include the removal of national politicians upholding the interests of Apartheid Israel instead of international justice for Palestine.
Wed, 2021-04-07 13:51
#9
Venezuela Welcomes UN Resolution Calling to Eliminate Sanctions
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15157
"The UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution on Tuesday urging all States to stop adopting unilateral sanctions as 'tools of political and economic pressure.' The text was approved with 30 votes in favor, 15 against and two abstentions.
The approved document stressed that unilateral sanctions are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, 'in particular those of a coercive nature with extraterritorial effects.'
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the resolution's adoption and the vindication of 'the undeniable criminal damage' of unilateral sanctions 'against the lives of Venezuelans and free nations of the world..."
Somone please advise Justin Trudeau, Marc Garneau, Bob Rae, Jack Harris et al.
Wouldn't this make BDS illegal?
Absolutely not. This is a call for the end of countries using sanctions against other countries. Citizens are free to boycott anyone they want to. For instance I never buy anything that says Made in the US unless there is no other choice available. I can't figure out which parts of the US goods are made in so I worry that they may be from Right to Work states or worse still made in a prison factory. This resolution says that Canada should not sanction the US for its human rights record not that I can't boycott the repressive regime to the south of me.
Wed, 2021-04-07 17:01
#10
The S in BDS stands for Sanctions.
Wed, 2021-04-07 21:04
#11
The S in BDS stands for Sanctions.
That is very true but UN sanctions are not disallowed it is unilateral coercive sanctions by individual nations that are covered by the resolution. Israel could still be the subject of UN sanctions but not Canadian ones unless they were UN based or approved. Besides this is an aspirational resolution that is almost one big loophole.
"the Council urges all States to stop adopting, maintaining or implementing unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States"
Thu, 2021-04-08 01:36
#12
The UN: Partner in the Struggle Against Apartheid
https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/un_against_apartheid.shtml
"We stand here today to salute the United Nations Organisation and its Member States, both single and collectively, for joining forces with the masses of our people in a common struggle that has brought about our emancipation and pushed back the frontiers of racism." - Mandela -
Fast forward and now we have an ex-NDP leader and zionist at the UN to defend and protect Apartheid Israel there while here at home it's the current NDP leader and zionist that does the dirty on the Palestin[d]ians. A deeply shameful state of affairs in a collaborationist shambles of a party disgracefully unfit like all the others to lead us anywhere but deeper into darkness. Shame on Canada and the NDP for the awful service they render to such a vicious and offensive settler state.
Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.
Tue, 2022-04-26 12:52
#13
We are indeed fortunate to have this planetwide organization, so let's make this our goto place to resolve amongst other issues, international disputes, as it's time to revive the UN.
So what has to occur for this to happen.
1 - Remove the veto powers from all.
2 - Relocation. With Zoom, etc., much work can be done online, and for the greatly reduced physical space required, each country could take turns hosting the UN for a short period of time, on a rotational basis, so as many countries as possible get to host.
3 - Some will threaten to leave - call their bluff, let them, and they will pay a huge international ostracization price.
4 - What are we waiting for!
Tue, 2022-04-26 15:20
#14
Don Davies could be the first Secretary General of the new and improved U.N.!
Wed, 2022-04-27 12:08
#15
Is the United Nations Reformable? Or will it remain a toothless tiger?
U.N. takes step to put veto users under global spotlight
A resolution adopted by consensus in the 193-member assembly amid a burst of applause does not eliminate or limit the veto power of the Security Council's permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
But for the first time, the General Assembly will be required "to hold a debate on the situation" that sparks a veto in the Security Council within 10 working days. Precedence will be given on the list of speakers to the permanent member who casts a veto.
The assembly isn't required to take or consider any action under the resolution, but the discussion could put veto-wielders on the spot and let a raft of other countries be heard.
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/27/1094971703/u-n-takes-step-to-put-veto-use....
Wed, 2022-04-27 12:30
#16
The Origins and History of the Veto and Its Use
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/existing-legal-limits-to-security-c...
Wed, 2022-04-27 12:45
#17
Reforming the UN is necessary however it comes with the inherent problem of enforcement. If nuclear powers do not have a veto then the UN will find itself in a position were the majority of nations might for instance vote to tell the US or Russia or the UK to stop a military action. When they say go pound sand then what?
If the UN is to be truly reformed to become a democratic body then it needs to have a different voting system one that reflects the relative populations of the world. The UN's representative structure is worse than FPTP for providing citizens of the planet equal representation.
Wed, 2022-04-27 12:48
#18
Agreed.
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As of February 2022, Russia/USSR has used its veto 120 times, the US 82 times, the UK 29 times, France 16 times, and China 17 times.
Wed, 2022-04-27 22:20
#19
If the UN is to be truly reformed to become a democratic body then it needs to have a different voting system one that reflects the relative populations of the world. The UN's representative structure is worse than FPTP for providing citizens of the planet equal representation.
I think the U.S., the UK, France, and Russia would all probably veto that idea. I think most countries in the U.N. would vote against it too as it would give most countries far less political weight in the U.N. than they currently have.
Thu, 2022-04-28 12:44
#20
JKR do not mistake my musings about ideals for musings about political possibilities. Until the US citizens take control of their military industrial complex there will be no peace because peace is bad for business.
Thu, 2022-04-28 20:36
#21
Sounds like there won't be "peace for our time."
Fri, 2022-04-29 19:55
#22
Peace is bad for oligarchs not business.
Sat, 2022-04-30 11:57
#23
Peace is bad for oligarchs not business.
In NATO and its allied country's the arms trade is big business. Perpetual war is the norm on our planet and oligarchs around the globe love it.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/262935/conflicts-worldwide-by-intens...
https://www.statista.com/statistics/266892/military-expenditure-as-perce...
Sat, 2022-04-30 12:56
#24
In the meantime the indigenous community in Canada needs to seek international interference in our internal affairs, to have any chance of our genocide perpetrators being taken to court. Pity our politicians can only recognize genocide in other countries actions. You would think it would be easy to pass a unanimous resolution in the House to support a special Crown Prosecutor to go after any living perps.
"I'm calling on the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, along with other special rapporteurs, to conduct full-fledged investigations of the circumstances and responsibilities surrounding these institutions, including full redress, criminal prosecutions and sanctions and other remedies for human rights violations, including genocide," the AFN chief said and called on the International Criminal Court to launch its own human rights investigation into Canada's residential schools.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/UN-Should-Investigate-Abuses-in-Cana...
Sun, 2022-05-01 00:42
#25
Peace is bad for oligarchs not business.
We've never seen that in practice because our oligarchs are extremely good at manipulating the domestic populace into supporting the wars that provide them profits.