| | | UN urged to act toward improved Syria humanitarian access The United Nations Security Council is being asked by aid agencies and global leaders, including The Elders, to take action to deliver humanitarian assistance to more than 1.5 million displaced Syrians being "held hostage to the ongoing deadlock at the political level," the groups said in a letter. Among the few aid groups operating there is Doctors Without Borders, which announced Tuesday that a seven-person team, in secret, has been treating rebel fighters and civilians. Wounds have worsened since security forces increased use of heavy weapons. Reuters (8/21), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/21), AlertNet/Reuters (8/21), BBC (8/21) | | | [Blog] Access to clean cookstoves fuels can help improve humanitarian situations. Read the post share your thoughts http://ow.ly/d7DaZ @Cookstoves | | | "Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's prime minister for the past 20 years died of an illness at the age of 57. Had he survived, he might have been prime minister for another 20 years...Now that Meles is gone will the civic space start to open up?" UN Dispatch | | - Kosovo returns to UN, seeking recognition
Serbia Prime Minister Ivica Dacic told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that the country "will never, under any circumstances, implicitly or explicitly" recognize the independence of Kosovo. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that UN recognition of the predominately ethnic Albanian territory -- which claimed independence from Serbia more than four years ago -- is only a matter of time. There are 92 UN members, including the U.S., that recognize Kosovo's independence. Bloomberg Businessweek (8/21), CBS News/The Associated Press (8/21) - UN: Wealth gap in Latin America greatest in cities
Guatemala has the greatest gap between rich and poor in Latin America, while Venezuela has the smallest, according to a report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Eight in 10 Latin Americans live in cities today and almost 90% will in 2050, says the report -- offering leaders in the region an opportunity to resolve intra-city inequalities. BBC (8/21), ABC News/The Associated Press (8/21) - WWII-era "comfort women" seek apology
Filipina women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers during World War II, otherwise known as "comfort women," are seeking an apology from the Japanese government and a place in the history books of Japan and the Philippines. "Many lost their minds, many died, and many did not recover from fear," said Lita Vinuya, 81. "Look how well Japan has recovered since the war. Surely, they can afford to spare us a little bit of compensation." Al-Jazeera/Asia blog (8/18) - Are Nigeria's peace efforts rewarding militancy?
The Nigerian government has entered into peace talks with Boko Haram Islamic militants while continuing to pay new and former militants to stop kidnappings and pipeline bombings that have plagued the oil-rich Niger Delta. Observers say the policies in the Delta -- which include an amnesty program -- could send the message "that militancy promises more rewards than risks," writes Drew Hinshaw. The Christian Science Monitor (8/21), The Wall Street Journal (8/22) | | 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: - Tuesday, August 21, 2012
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