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- Gay group is blocked by NGO committee
The United Nations committee responsible for nongovernmental organization accreditations blocked an application Thursday from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for "consultative status." Representatives from the United States and Britain objected to the accreditation postponement which was led by Egypt and supported by other developing countries. ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (6/3) , Reuters (6/3)       - ICC jails are criticized as too plush
Former Congolese warlords, Serbian militia leaders and a former Liberian president waiting to appear before the International Criminal Court live a life of remarkable luxury, sharing a college dormitorylike apartment complete with personal computers, bookcases, a foosball table, gymnasium and personal trainers -- in addition to free legal aid whose costs amount to $43,000 per month. Though the courts were intended to serve as a human model for incarceration, subsidized travel stipends for family visits for generals and leaders accused of systemic rape and murder have prompted some observers to ask whether the system is indeed too generous. The New York Times (free registration) (6/3)   | - MLS stars shoot for Nothing but Nets
As athletic spokesmen for the UN Foundation's Nothing but Nets anti-malaria campaign, Robbie Russell and Jean Alexandre of the Real Salt Lake soccer team led several teammates and tourists in an anti-malaria and soccer skills workshop in Washington on Thursday. U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have encouraged Real Salt Lake, who are visiting Washington as the victorious Major League Soccer champions, to participate in community service campaigns while they are in town. Nothing but Nets has sent more than 3 million insecticide-treated nets to African since 2006, where the UN assists in distributing them, even to remote areas. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (6/4) - Aid groups appeal for more West Africa funds
The European Union released an additional $29 million in aid Wednesday to help counter the effect of drought in West Africa. Aid agencies warn more funds are needed to overcome a food crisis that is affecting more than 10 million people in the region. AlertNet.org/Reuters (6/3) - BP caps leaking oil well in temporary fix
The U.S. Coast Guard says that BP has lowered a cap on the broken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico in order to trap escaping oil and natural gas -- a solution described as a temporary fix. BP has ignored recent calls from Washington to put shareholder payments on hold until the full cost of the environmental cleanup in the Gulf region can be calculated and allocated, infuriating leaders who say that the current $69 million bill estimate is likely to be just a fraction of the cost. BBC (6/4) , The Guardian (London) (6/4) - World Cup play expands South Africa's carbon footprint
Though South Africa has pledged to build green facilities for hosting this year's World Cup tournament, the carbon costs associated with travel for participants and fans to and from South Africa as well as the energy required to accommodate the games and tourists will be considerable. A study performed by the South African government in concert with their Norwegian Embassy reveals that the carbon footprint for the 2010 World Cup will be six times greater than that of the 2006 World Cup, which was hosted by Germany. The UN's Global Environment Facility has helped to develop a public transportation system and a solar energy initiative in order to reduce the carbon costs of the games. The Guardian (London) (6/3) - Ecuador needs to increase Galapagos conservation efforts
 A steady increase in visitors to the Galapagos Islands over the past three decades is endangering a growing number of species, and the Ecuadorean government must immediately increase conservation efforts to halt the trend, The Economist writes. Increased road traffic and diseases originating with animals brought to the island to feed visitors are among the factors having adverse effects on indigenous species. The Economist (6/3) - UN wants probe into DR Congo activist's death
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon supports calls for an independent investigation into the death of prominent Democratic Republic of Congo rights defender Floribert Chebeya, whose body was discovered in his car Tuesday. Chebaya, who founded DR Congo advocacy group Voice of the Voiceless in 1983, persistently campaigned against arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, corruption and impunity. BBC (6/4) - Tiananmen anniversary brings activists out
Though China does not recognize publicly the Tiananmen Square massacre through memorials or anniversary demonstrations, this year's anniversary may receive more official recognition than in previous years. The Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily published a cartoon that appeared to reference the anonymous "tank man" from the famous photograph. New details on the events just before and after the demonstrations will be revealed by the publication of the diary of Li Peng, the man who ordered martial law in Beijing in order to stop the pro-democracy protests. Los Angeles Times (6/4) , BBC (6/4) - Rumors swirl over Myanmar nuke program
A Myanmar army officer who has defected claims that the country's leadership is persistently pursuing nuclear weapons, though research shows that their efforts are still crude. The former major, who was trained in Russian missile technology, says that Myanmar seeks to build a nuclear development program to make plutonium and enrich uranium. The Guardian (London) (6/4) - Afghan jirga endorses peace effort with Taliban
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's plan to offer amnesty and reconciliation incentives to Taliban members has won the backing of 1,600 tribal elders and religious figures gathered at a "peace jirga" Karzai hopes can improve security and end the need for foreign troops in the country. The gathering has no legally binding decision-making power, and the Taliban has dismissed the effort as stage-managed by foreigners. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (6/2) , AlertNet.org/Reuters (6/4) - In Japan, new boss meets same problems as old boss
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan selected Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan to succeed Yukio Hatoyama to lead the party and the country, a move that will thrust him into many of the same problems that have flummoxed several Japanese administrations. Kan faces the country's debt, fiscal scandals and a nettlesome security relationship with the U.S. -- problems that have in recent years come to define Japanese domestic politics. The Washington Post (6/4)  | |  | | | | | | | | Deputy Program Director | Human Rights Watch | New York, NY | | Online Communications Senior Associate, Public Affairs Girl Up Campaign | United Nations Foundation (UNF) / Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | Systems Administrator | United Nations Foundation (UNF)/Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | Pledge Guarantee for Health (PGH) Associate | United Nations Foundation (UNF)/Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | Managing Director, Thought Leadership | United Nations Foundation (UNF) / Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | Campaign Associate, Girl Up Campaign | United Nations Foundation (UNF) / Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | Communications Associate, Public Affairs Girl Up Campaign | United Nations Foundation (UNF) / Better World Fund (BWF) | Washington, DC | | | |  | |  | |
- Who is best equipped to handle massive environmental disasters like the Gulf oil spill?
| National governments |  36.31% | | Corporations |  23.34% | | Non-governmental organizations |  22.19% | | The United Nations |  18.16% | - Clarification
An item in Thursday's UN WIRE failed to include the time frame for a statistic mentioned in an article on abortion in Brazil. The item should have read, "One out of every five Brazilian women has had an abortion despite severe restrictions on legal procedures, while more than 200,000 women are hospitalized every year as a result of unsafe abortions, according to a new government study." UN WIRE regrets the omission. |
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| | | About UN WIRE | | UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today. | | | | | | | | Recent UN Wire Issues: - Thursday, June 03, 2010
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