(UPDATE: I’ve removed the link in the first paragraph for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. The event is for real, but they are obviously having problems with the web site.) Today is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and also the day Human Rights Watch released their annual LGBT Rights: The 2013 [...]
Tag Archives | United Nations
Queer Talk: UN Anti-Homophobia Video
From the Human Rights Office of the UN, a new anti-homophobia message, by way of a video. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) represents the world’s commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. We have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights. [...]
First Global Conventional Arms Treaty Approved by U.S., Senate Republicans Oppose Ratification
At AllGovNews: (emphasis added), about the United Nations vote: The United States sided with more than 150 nations this week in approving the world’s first arms treaty governing conventional weapons—particularly notable in that it seeks to protect human rights. But U.S. participation in the agreement hinges on the Senate ratifying it, and that may not [...]
Drones: In the U.S. Counterterrorism ‘Playbook’ and Under UN Investigation
The use of drones, domestically and internationally, continues to rise. Two recent developments caught my attention, both focused on the international arena. First, from the Washington Post: The Obama administration is nearing completion of a detailed counterterrorism manual that is designed to establish clear rules for targeted-killing operations but leaves open a major exemption for [...]
Top Story — U.N. Report Declares Contraception an International Human Rights Issue
Additional Investments in Family Planning Would Save Developing Countries More Than $11 Billion a Year — Access to family planning is an essential human right that unlocks unprecedented rewards for economic development, says new UNFPA report. – UNFPA REPORT TAKE A BOW Secretary Clinton, who began this push in 1995 as first lady when she [...]
Palestinians to Forge Ahead with UN Bid: Abbas
Palestinians to forge ahead with UN bid: Abbas (via AFP) Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has announced that the Palestinian Authority will present its bid for non-state UN membership, despite US and Israeli opposition. Following talks with Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo, “it has been agreed that the request will be presented on November [...]
For Anyone Who Actually Cares About the Colin Powell Endorsement
IT’S HARD to imagine why this endorsement matters, but it does to some. The Obama campaign is sending it out, so it obviously does to them. It’s one thing to respect Gen. Powell’s service to our country. However, his political judgment long ago proved weak, when he became a foot soldier for George W. Bush [...]
Bibi and the Bomb Cartoon
8:00 P.M. Netanyahu: Under Obama’s leadership, some of harshest sanctions on Iran have been passed. But we must face the truth – sanctions have not stopped Iran’s nuclear program either. According to IAEA, Iran has doubdle its number of centrifuges. The only way to stop it is to place a clear red line on Iran’s [...]
Bill Clinton: It’s Netanyahu’s Fault
Josh Rogin’s piece is a perfect button on the drama unfolding this week at UNGA. But the Netanyahu government has moved away from the consensus for peace, making a final status agreement more difficult, Clinton said. “That’s what happened. Every American needs to know this. That’s how we got to where we are,” Clinton said. [...]
ISRAEL: Rick Perry’s ‘Appeasement’ Not Befitting An American President
“I think Governor Perry ought to really consider the real world implications of that for Israel. Because the security assistance that the United States provides the Palestinian Authority benefits Israel directly and Israelis are well aware of that,” Rice said. – UN Ambassador Susan Rice Fires Back at Mitt Romney and Rick Perry: Don’t ‘Play [...]
Iranian Politics and American Hikers
CNN reports the two American hikers imprisoned in Iran have been released. American hikers freed in Iran Two American hikers imprisoned as spies in Iran for more than two years were released on bail Wednesday, Iranian and U.S. officials said. The news of their release comes a day before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due [...]
‘In the News’ Diaries Spotlight
The first one is from Sunlight: Census Bureau — and Procter & Gamble — “Get” the Persistently Weak Economy, but Obama Doesn’t, by Sunlight This past Tuesday the 12th the Census Bureau issued a disquieting report on the nations economic well-being, or lack thereof. Some key findings As of 2010, median “real” (ie., inflation adjusted) [...]
Dyncorp, Sex Trafficking, the UN and ‘The Whistleblower’
The movie debuts this weekend, with “Morning Joe” and Jon Stewart among those helping get the word out. The buzz has been huge. Kathryn Bolkovac is still fighting to get the U.N. to do something about what she proved. The story goes like this, from 2001… A former United Nations police officer is suing a [...]
Queer Talk: ‘Human Rights’ (Hillary), ‘States’ Rights’ (Obama)
Joyce Arnold is a liberal Independent activist whose weekly column “Queer Talk” appears on Saturday. Two events on Monday of this week added to the conversations about marriage equality. One was from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who talked about international LGBT rights as “human rights.” And one from White House press secretary Jay Carney [...]
Israel Drops Threats Against Journalists Covering Gaza Flotilla
If there was anything dumber for the Israeli government to do I don’t know what it could have been. Threatening journalists who are covering the Gaza flotilla backfired, as it should. Netanyahu said in a statement that the policy for journalists covering the flotilla should not be the same as against infiltrators and those who [...]
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