| |  | |  Records show human role in warming, UN says Global temperature statistics show that 13 of the warmest years ever recorded occurred over the past decade and a half, proving "unequivocally that the world is warming and that this warming is due to human activities," Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the UN World Meteorological Organization, said today in a statement. The climb in temperatures is expected to make extreme weather patterns such as floods and droughts even more severe, according to a WMO report. Reuters (11/29), ABC News (11/29)     
|
|  | "More than 2,000 delegates from donor and recipient countries, philanthropies, NGOs and the private sector are gathered in Busan, South Korea this week for a major meeting on aid effectiveness. The goal of the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness is to come up with a common road map and principles for the provision of international aid for development." UN Dispatch | |
- UN: Action is needed on Libyan detainees
A report made public Monday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that about 7,000 people are still being held by former Libyan rebels -- many of them sub-Saharan Africans suspected of being mercenaries hired by the former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and some of whom are reported to have been subjected to torture. Determining the future of rival revolutionary brigades should be the country's main priority, according to the report. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (11/28), CNN (11/29) - Aid conference grapples with tied aid, rights
Rwanda is leading a charge by African countries at a major aid conference to end the practice of tied aid, where development aid is tied to purchases from companies in donor countries, by 2013. Civil society groups, which have backed the call to end tied aid, are also pushing for guarantees from governments on the freedom of association and speech. The Guardian (London) (11/28) - Using biogas for cookstoves
A novel project in rural South Africa is training women to build bio-digesters, devices that produce biogas from cattle dung, to be used in lieu of charcoal and firewood to power cookstoves. The pilot project, in which the United Nations Development Programme is a partner, is intended to serve as an example of how communities can not only live off the grid, but reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. IOL.co.za (South Africa) (11/28) - Are sexual assault trends changing in DR Congo?
Some health care workers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are seeing a change in the cases of sexual assault, with fewer victims naming military forces as perpetrators. The numbers of assaults have yet to post a significant drop and military forces do continue to be accused of widespread abuses including mass rapes. BBC (11/29) - Durban talks bog down over money
World leaders must act quickly to combat climate change, Christiana Figueres, head of the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change, said as negotiators gathered in Durban, South Africa. Efforts to craft a successor agreement to the Kyoto Treaty are deadlocked by significant disagreement between developing and wealthy countries, and both the Canada and U.S. are expected to raise objections against a climate fund designed to help developing countries manage climate change effects. AlertNet (11/28), The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (11/29) - Architect strengthens case for super-strong bamboo
The strong, eco-sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and ubiquitous bamboo can and should be used in lieu of wood and concrete in many building structures, says Simon Velez, a Colombia-based architect. "Still we don't understand bamboo's full potential," says Velez, who adds that it is only a matter of time before bamboo is used to replace traditional woods in light of issues such as climate change and deforestation. Los Angeles Times (11/29)  | - UN reports on abuses in Syria
Syrian authorities have killed at least 256 children, and sexually tortured male detainees, over the past eight months they have tried to violently put down anti-government protests, according to the findings of an investigation by an independent commission of the United Nations Human Rights Council. "Children were also tortured, some to death," concludes the report, released Monday, which chronicles what it calls "gross violations of human rights" during the government's crackdown. The Wall Street Journal (11/29), Bloomberg (11/29), The Washington Post/The Associated Press (11/28) - Join Experts for a Sneak Peek of the 2011 mHealth Summit
With healthcare costs skyrocketing in Western countries and families in the poorest countries still lacking proper access to medical services, mobile health (mHealth) has great potential to transform healthcare systems and improve health outcomes. The 2011 mHealth Summit is the world's largest mobile health event with an expected 3000-3500 attendees from more than 40 countries. This year the Summit will take place from December 5-7 at the National Harbor near Washington, DC. UN Wire readers are invited to join mobile health experts for a teleconference to discuss the upcoming Summit and answer your questions about the intersection between health and mobile technology.
|
 | Key Sites
| | |
This SmartBrief was created for eleccion@yahoogroups.com
| Advertise With Us | Amy DiElsi
Director for UN Foundation Communications
United Nations Foundation
1800 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
(D) 202-419-3230
(C) 202-492-3078
(F) 202-887-9021
www.unfoundation.org | | | | 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: - Monday, November 28, 2011
- Wednesday, November 23, 2011
- Tuesday, November 22, 2011
- Monday, November 21, 2011
- Friday, November 18, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Adam Mazmanian
Contributing Editor: Juliette Terzieff
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment