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- Egypt is critical of UN chief's remarks over revolt
Representatives from the Egypt mission to the United Nations have expressed their displeasure with the public comments by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that were critical of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, and encourage bold transition. "The remarks made by [Ban], whether in Davos or London, were viewed as raising the bar above all the other remarks that have been made by other member states, including those who criticized Egypt," said Nihal Saad, spokeswoman for the Egyptian mission to the UN. Reuters (2/4) , ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (2/5)       - Campaign is under way to target Gbagbo with UN sanctions
British, French and U.S. representatives at the Security Council have launched a joint campaign to impose United Nations sanctions against Cote d'Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo. The measure would require unanimous support, and Russia has already expressed reservations. Gbagbo is under international pressure to step down after results from Cote d'Ivoire's November vote showed him losing the election. Bloomberg (2/4) - New DR Congo initiative seeks to empower women
UNICEF and private foundations have joined forces with playwright Eve Ensler in an initiative to empower women in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- especially survivors of the country's rape epidemic -- in a bid to build an army of women trained to take on decision-making roles in their communities. Program participants will receive training in self-defense, human rights and computers as well as have access to counseling and basic education services. The New York Times (free registration) (2/6) - Africa campaign highlights female circumcision practices
More than 6,000 communities in six African countries have ended support for the practice of female genital mutilation in response to a United Nations program started in 2008 that uses music and local celebrities to raise public awareness. Female genital mutilation is practiced in 28 African countries with an estimated 2 million females undergoing the procedure every year. The Guardian (London) (2/6) - Foreign investment and food security in Africa
Africa could be a breadbasket to the world, with its fertile land, winding rivers and cheap farm labor. But most African countries import the majority of their food staples, spurring dozens of major foreign corporations and national governments to invest in African land in order to grow food and crops that could be turned into biofuels for export -- a trend that could make the continent more food and trade self-sufficient, yet also could lead to unrest. The Christian Science Monitor (2/6) Top five news stories selected by UN Wire readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
- Rising food costs sow instability
Sharp rises in the prices of basic foods -- which the United Nations reports recently hit global highs -- have contributed to the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt, and are likely to lead to political instability in key regions elsewhere, according to food experts. The Guardian (London) (2/7) - Bolivian leader stumps in Africa for UN water resolution
Leaders in Africa -- where half the population does not have access to clean water -- are being asked by Bolivian President Evo Morales to support a proposed UN resolution that would bar the sale of public water services to private companies. "Water is a basic public need that must not be managed by private interests, but should be for all people, including people of rural areas," Morales said Sunday at the 2011 World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/7) - Pillay warns authoritarian rulers over abuses
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has been vocal in her condemnations of abuses and authoritarian rulers in countries including Egypt, Tunisia and Cote d'Ivoire winning broad support from international human rights group. Pillay has publicly warned leaders they will be held accountable for abuses and dispatched experts to Tunisia to advise new authorities on possible judicial reforms. AlertNet/Reuters (2/6) - Egyptian Google executive is expected to be released
Wael Ghonim, an Egyptian political activist who spearheads Google's marketing efforts in the Middle East and North Africa was expected to be released by authorities today, after having been missing and presumably under arrest since Jan. 28. Ghonim was reportedly instrumental in establishing some of the Facebook pages and other websites that helped organize support for the demonstrations that are helping to create political change in Egypt. The Wall Street Journal (2/7) - Observers are wary of Haiti election runoff
Many Haitians are worried that the pending runoff between two vastly different presidential candidates could lead to widespread protests and accusations of fraud that echo those that swirled after the original Nov. 28 election, after which the government pulled its chosen candidate. "I'm pessimistic," said a former prime minister. "Unless there is something which I can't foresee, we're heading toward major problems." The New York Times (free registration) (2/6) - U.S. troops uncover shadowy Afghan Taliban government
Some five months after the U.S. government sent thousands of soldiers into rural areas of Afghanistan, evidence has been uncovered showing that local fighters have established an underground government in the service of the Taliban. A civilian administration runs schools, collects taxes and settles civil disputes Islamic courts, not to mention finds medical care and shelter for fighters, which undermines U.S. plans to establish a long-lasting central Afghan government. The New York Times (free registration) (2/6) - ElBaradei: Egyptians are pushing for real change
Egypt is "imploding both politically and economically" and President Hosni Mubarak should step down immediately, opposition leader and Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei insists in this interview. "A people that was frozen in a political coma just a few months ago is now a model for all the world's oppressed peoples. It's truly astounding," ElBaradei says. Der Spiegel (Germany) (English online version) (2/6)  | |  | | | | | | Various Positions | International Labour Office | Geneva, Switzerland | | Researcher on Afghanistan | Human Rights Watch | N/A, Afghanistan | | Administrative Associate, Public Affairs | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Administrative Associate, Energy Access | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Associate, Executive Office | United Nations Foundations | Washington , DC | | Manager, UNA Education Programs | United Nations Foundations | New York City, NY | | Major Gifts Officer, Nothing But Nets and Global Partnerships | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Regional Manager for Europe | Center for Reproductive Rights | New York, NY | | Senior Officer, Medical Safety | The Pew Charitable Trusts | Washington, DC | | | |  | |  |
- In Bill Gates' annual 2011 letter, he stated that eradicating polio will have amazing benefits for future generations. What do you think is the most important of these benefits?
 | No child will die or be paralyzed by the disease in the future | | The money that will be saved by eradicating polio far exceeds what we are spending on eradication efforts now | | The success will energize the field of global health by showing that investments in health lead to amazing victories |
- Pledge to Unite for Girls
TIME's executive editor calls girls "the best investment." Through the UN Foundation's Girl Up campaign, you can invest in creating better futures for teens in countries like Malawi or Liberia, by supporting UN programs on the ground. Girls make up more than half of the world's out of school youth. Show your support for changing this stat and getting more girls back in school! Sign the pledge at www.girlup.org/pledge. - Rotary International launches polio PSA
Rotary International launched a public service announcement campaign featuring a global cast including Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Desmond Tutu, Queen Noor of Jordan and many others saying the world is "This Close" to ending polio. Click here to view a TV spot via YouTube. Click here to read more about the campaign via the Rotary International website. |
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