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- U.K., France push for UN vote over Libya response
British Prime Minister David Cameron prodded the divided UN Security Council "to show some leadership" after tabling a resolution calling for a no-fly zone over Libya, except for humanitarian flights, as well as an extension of the travel ban, the asset freeze and the arms embargo. Britain and France were pushing for a vote today on measures said to include possible airstrikes and greater Arab involvement, but Russia said it needed more time. The Wall Street Journal (3/17), The Independent (London) (3/16), BBC (3/17)       - UN chief spotlights Central American violence
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged to support Central American governments in efforts to reduce the region's high rates of murder and other violence. "Organized crime is an international phenomenon that requires a regional response," Ban said after a meeting in Guatemala, where he extended the mandate of the UN Commission against Impunity for two more years. BBC (3/16) - Aid is not reaching Japan's isolated survivors
Aid to survivors of the trio of Japanese disasters is comprised primarily of water, blankets and shelters for children as international relief organizations say the wealthy country is largely prepared to deal with the crises on its own. Shelters in the vicinity of the earthquake-stricken nuclear plant in Fukushima are poorly supplied, however, because aid agencies are reluctant to send their workers to areas that may have been contaminated by radiation. The Wall Street Journal (3/17), Los Angeles Times (3/17) - Global Fund launches review panel
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has chosen former Botswana President Festus Mogae and former U.S. Health Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to lead an independent investigation panel. Internal investigations by the Geneva-based fund found millions of dollars in donor funds have been diverted by corruption in recipient countries, and the fund hopes the panel will reassure donors. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (3/16) - Aid officials raise alarm over Cote d'Ivoire crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Cote d'Ivoire is intensifying as residents are being intimidated into refusing to accept assistance from the United Nations and other aid groups, aid officials say. Cote d'Ivoire's violent political crisis has uprooted more than 455,000 people, the majority of them displaced within the country. AlertNet (3/16)  | - UN forecasts path of radioactive plume
 The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna estimated that a radioactive plume released from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility will cross the Pacific Ocean, reaching the Aleutian Islands in Alaska today and Southern California on Friday. The report indicates that levels of radioactivity may be detectable in the U.S., but will be too small to cause serious human harm. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are cautioning that the area of potential contamination in Japan is likely larger than the 20-kilometer exclusion zone mapped out by Japanese authorities, and they are encouraging Americans living within 80 kilometers of the plant to leave the area. The New York Times (free registration) (3/16), BBC (3/16) - IAEA takes up Japan crisis
The International Atomic Energy Agency has called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and IAEA chief Yukiya Amano is flying into Tokyo to speak directly with Japanese officials. This will be the first extraordinary meeting of the IAEA since the body's board met to elect a successor to former head Mohamed ElBaradei. Bloomberg Businessweek (3/16) - Social nets enable mobile giving
Donations made via text message for Japan disaster-relief campaigns are expected to account for 15% to 20% of all donations, which would be on par with what was collected via text in the Haiti disaster-relief effort last year. Social networks play a role in more than 40% of such contributions, according to Jenifer Snyder, executive director of The mGive Foundation. "This is a key marketing channel that cannot be ignored," she said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (3/15) - Police bust global pedophile ring
A three-year investigation has led to the arrests of 184 adults, and the protection of 60 children, in what police are calling the world's largest pedophile ring yet discovered. A British-led team identified 670 suspects and 230 abused children through films and images shared among members of a legal online forum whose members hailed from the Netherlands, the U.K., Australia, Italy, Canada, New Zealand and Thailand. BBC (3/16) - Gadhafi steps up attacks on Benghazi
Fighter planes bombed the airport and other sites in Benghazi, as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi accelerated efforts to eliminate a popular uprising. The move comes as rebel forces said Wednesday they have achieved some small successes against Libyan government forces in the east. The military escalation by Gadhafi loyalists comes as some western powers are suggesting armed intervention in the conflict. The Wall Street Journal (3/17), The New York Times (free registration) (3/16) - U.S. hints at stronger response in Libya
The United States is giving its clearest indication yet that it is willing to consider active military intervention in Libya to counter Moammar Gadhafi's advancing forces. But the Obama administration is first asking the UN for expanded authority and insisting on Arab involvement. "The U.S. view is that we need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point," said U.S. Ambassador the UN, Susan Rice. The Washington Post (3/17) - Aristide is set to return to Haiti
Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is expected to return to his country from South Africa after seven years of exile this week as presidential elections loom. It's not clear what specific impact Aristide could have on the elections, given that his political ally Jean-Henry Ceant failed to advance in November's first round of elections. However, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama were reportedly among those lobbying South African President Jacob Zuma to stall Aristide's return until after the elections. The Miami Herald (free registration) (3/17), Google/The Associated Press (3/17)  | |  | | | | | | Collaboration and Partnering, Advisor | World Vision International | TBD, United Kingdom | | Regional Leader, East Asia | World Vision International | Bangkok, Thailand | | Advocacy Manager, Global Vaccines Campaign | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Associate Director, Outreach and Events | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Administrative Assistant, Nothing But Nets | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | | |  | |  |
- Patrick Madden joins UNA-USA as Executive Director
The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), a program of the United Nations Foundation, today announced that Patrick Madden will join the organization as Executive Director. In this role, he will lead UNA-USA's nationwide membership, educational, and human rights programs and the growing movement of Americans who support the important work of the UN. Click here to read the full release from the UN Foundation. |
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