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- U.S. Republicans target UN funding in budget proposals
 Efforts to slash U.S. funding for a variety of UN projects are afoot as a Republican-led House seeks to scale back overall federal spending. The efforts hark back to disinformation campaigns against the world body that have long circulated in the United States, according to Boston Globe columnist Reneé Loth. UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth noted, "These are the kind of extreme measures I don't think we've seen for years." The Boston Globe (free registration) (2/26)       - Violence, poverty complicate polio efforts
 Vaccination efforts worldwide are raising hopes that polio, like smallpox, could be eradicated. Still, whereas a massive, well-funded program in India reaches some 172 million children, kids also at risk in neighboring Pakistan are difficult to reach, complicating the fight against the disease. ABC News (2/26) - Teenagers drive development of Girl Up
Washington, D.C., area schools and girls' organizations have joined forces with the United Nations Foundation to drive the Girl Up initiative -- a project that invites teenage girls to become spokespeople and activists in global development causes. Girl Up has teen advisers from 10 U.S. states, 150,000 Facebook fans and has received donations from more than 60,000 American young women and girls. Washingtonian.com/Capital Comment blog (2/25) 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.
- UN challenges Japan over Kyoto extension
The United Nations is pressuring Japan to sign on to an extension of the Kyoto Protocol in late 2012, saying that a refusal to do so could mean that the country would be required to cease its heavy trading in carbon emissions. Japan, Russia and Canada have said they want a new treaty that covers all major polluters, such as the United States, which never signed the binding agreement. Reuters (2/28) - UN taps Hollywood to raise alarm on climate change
The United Nations is going beyond past efforts in recruiting Hollywood talent to a cause, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calling on film stars to use all the means at their disposal to back the cause of addressing global climate change. In the past, the UN has recruited individual stars as goodwill ambassadors, but Ban is urging a broader movie-industry effort to boost public support as popular concern over the issue flags. Los Angeles Times (2/27) - China is criticized for media treatment
Chinese authorities are facing criticism from Western diplomats and human rights groups for ill-treatment of journalists attempting to cover peaceful demonstrations. Chinese authorities have placed strict restrictions on foreign reporters working in the country, and several journalists reported physical harassment over the weekend. Google/The Associated Press (2/28), Bloomberg (2/27) - West steps up pressure on Libya
Western government have begun to provide aid to mutinous Libyans challenging the rule of Moammar Gadhafi, sending food and medical supplies to eastern parts of the country. The move comes after the U.S., United Nations and European Union agreed to impose sanctions on Gadhafi in response to his government's ongoing bloody crackdown on protesters. The Wall Street Journal (2/28) - Palestinians look past U.S.-brokered peace plans
Palestinian authorities no longer believe the U.S. has the capability to aid in the creation of a Palestinian state and are considering a change in strategy. Leaders are reportedly considering an approach to the United Nations for assistance and nonviolent protests in the West Bank against Israel. The Wall Street Journal (2/26) - A rare look for Myanmar's leaders
The appearance of General Than Shwe and other junta leaders on television dressed in women's attire has many in Myanmar questioning whether the country's military rulers are practicing yadaya, black magic, against their political opponents. Some observers believe the move was in response to a prediction a woman would rule Myanmar, while others say the attire was a bid to neutralize the public popularity of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. TIME (2/24)  | |  | | | | | | Campaigns Manager (International) | WaterAid | London, United Kingdom | | Regional Leader, East Asia | World Vision International | Bangkok, Thailand | | Researcher on Afghanistan | Human Rights Watch | N/A, Afghanistan | | Senior Development Associate, Girl Up | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Director, Global Vaccines Campaign | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Director, Nothing But Nets campaign | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Leo Nevas Human Rights Fellow | United Nations Foundations | New York City, NY | | Various Positions | International Labour Office | Geneva, Switzerland | | | |  | |  |
 | - Largest youth generation in history at a crossroads
UN Foundation CEO Kathy Calvin responded to the recently issued UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2011 Report: "Today, there are 1.8 billion adolescents standing at the crossroads between childhood and adulthood -- making up the largest youth generation in history. Nine out of ten of these young people live in developing countries. The choices this generation makes will shape not only their lives, but will have a direct impact on the future of their communities, their nations, and the world around them." Click here to read the full statement, via the UN Foundation. |
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