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by Raysmom from Golden

Last Post 4 days, 17 hours Ago


The Bastardization of the U.N. Councils
Jul 31, 2008 | 3:32 PM
Category: Political
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The annual July session of ECOSOC, the UN Economic and Social Council, featured the usual malicious attempts to deny UN accreditation to legitimate non-governmental organizations.

Applications for accreditation are considered by the 19-nation Committee on NGOs, which includes such NGO-friendly governments as China, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia and Sudan. The committee spends most of its time harassing or barring groups that speak out for individual freedom.

Amidst much controversy, the NGO Committee had recommended to deny consultative status to the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). The United States asked ECOSOC to reconsider, noting that the HRF board included such distinguished human rights activists as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel. Also noted was that HRF is chaired by Armando Valladares, recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience for his years of incarceration in Cuban prisons.

The Cubans replied that Mr. Valladares is a “terrorist” and “a clown and a member of a criminal gang.” Cuba, Egypt for the Islamic Group, Russia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Sudan, and Belarus spoke out forcefully against HRC. Ecuador said it had “carried out activities that promoted subversion,” and labeled the group a “terrorist organization.”

Chavez, Castro, Mubarak, Lukashenko, al-Bashir, Morales, and Putin-Medvedev won. ECOSOC upheld the decision to bar the the Human Rights Foundation from the UN.

In a separate controversy, in March, 2008, the UN Human Rights Council  adopted its 16th one-sided censure of Israel since the supposedly reformed body was founded in June 2006. Apart from passing mention of Burma, the Islamic-dominated council of 47 governments has criticized no other country.  Beautiful!

The final resolution was adopted by 33 votes in favor, with Canada casting the sole opposing vote, and 13 abstentions. Switzerland was the sole European country to endorse the resolution, which was introduced by the Arab and Islamic blocs.

This is what much of our $$$$$'s go for in the UN.  Kudos to Canada for being the only nation on this council with any guts!  FYI- The United States does not hold a seat.

Not the best way  to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 9:44 PM

time to leave the un. they are a soocialist orginization any way telling every one how to behave. If we pulled out we could save approx 2-3 billion dollars, maybe more for better use here. what ever happened to america first.
Raysmom read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 9:50 PM

Boy, is it that much? I resent keeping Manhattan digs and giving favors to such an anti-American, anti-democracy, group of thugs.
toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 10:10 PM

It is an extremely large number. I might be off a little. But the money would be better spent here in our own diggs.

Total U.S. Contributions to the UN System,
Both Assessed and Voluntary -
Estimated at $3.0 Billion

Humanitarian/Human Rights - 39%
Environment - 2%
Development - 8%
Weapons of Mass Destruction - 3%
UN Regular Budget - 9%
UN Peacekeeping - 31%
Open Markets - 4%
Health - 4%

*Figures are based on FY 2002, excluding U.S. arrears payment.
Percentages reflect how U.S. dollars are divided within the UN system

The United States is a generous supporter of key UN programs, funding:


51.4% of the World Food Program budget to help feed 72 million people in 82 countries.*
17.1% of the United Nations Children’s Fund budget to feed, vaccinate, educate and protect children in 162 countries.*
14.1% of the United Nations Development Program core budget to eradicate poverty and encourage democratic governance.*
25.8% of the International Atomic Energy Agency budget to ensure safe and peaceful application of nuclear energy and prevent the illicit use of nuclear material for weapons.**
22% of the World Health Organization core budget as well as significant voluntary resources, helping to prevent and control epidemics and to improve standards of health.**
25% of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees budget to help protect refugees and facilitate their return home or re-settlement in another country.*
25% of the International Civil Aviation Organization budget to ensure safe, efficient and economical air travel.**
* These progr
Raysmom read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 11:28 PM

Some of these things sound like good things- does the $$$$ get where it is supposed to go? I read that UN Peacekeepers in Darfur are so strapped that they are wearing blue plastic bages on their heads instead of blue helmets- they offer no protection, but identify them. It sure would be nice to have a UN that was more effective against human rights violators, and less hostile to the hand that feeds them. If they had done their job with Hussein, well, we all know about the Food for Oil debacle. 39% to "Human Rights"? Actually DOING something, or these kangaroo councils, I wonder?
toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 12:34 AM

I really don't know if the miney goes where it is supposed to. I'm not really infavor of giving that amount of money without having a permante seat on the council. It is that reason I believe we should withdraw.
Raysmom read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 10:41 AM

Yes, I think we could take the $$$ and direct it where it needs to go ourselves, spend half as much and do twice as much good, I agree. (Take the rest and spend it here for something useful, like a permanant fix to the Alternative Minimum tax). We didn't even try to get a seat on the council as a protest of the sitting memebers- all known rights abusers and tyrants. If Obama is elected, he has promised to seek a seat to "inspire debate" and to "invest" more tax dollars in the U.N. programs. I can't figure out if he's THAT naive, or if he thinks WE are?
toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 8:23 PM

I think he thinks he is the second comming. The man has referred to in so as much with statements such as I am what you all have been waiting for. The un once upon a time had the teeth to do something like during the korean war, the draw back was that truman did not want to expand into china. may be good, may be bad who knows. All the past un leaders have been lead by leaders from the third world's socialist leaders. One exception South Korea, Still not sure as the verdict is still out on the legacy.
marilyn37 read my blog view my photos
Aug 6, 2008 | 4:51 AM

it is difficult to turn ones back on an organization that votes upon you. and i just realized i no longer know who is usa ambassador to the un ! ! !

it is probably important to keep a permanent seat so one can keep feeling the u.n. pulse since they could control so much money around the world with little accountable.

i like the millennium challenge corporation - hopefully it will become the standard for aid giving around the world
toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Aug 6, 2008 | 8:23 AM

we dont have a permante seat the un is a socialist orginization and ai wnat no parto of it. that money can be better spent here.
marilyn37 read my blog view my photos
Aug 6, 2008 | 10:02 AM

lol! seems that way doesnt it....there are many countries who have permanent seats which gives more weight to their vote and also on security council permanent seats [i think that is called i.e. brits, french, russia, denmark and usa - 7 i believe]...which our and other ambassadors petition frequently on behalf of other countries like darfur or somilia or iran .... some for some against also president bush asked sanctions in july to be placed on an african country which was giving aid to terrorists.. that was accepted and passed

i have read where years ago a dane did an exceptionally good job as secretary of security council ...it seems to move through phases doesnt it. if they would just get back on track

this terrorists stuff w/ all their dollars has been a huge beast i.e. saddam bribing people who are now behind bars....

terrorists are beating up on old well established african countries for a decade at least - like morocco a coalition member

its their accountability with dollars i worry about for awhile
toadie800 read my blog view my photos
Aug 6, 2008 | 6:14 PM

We should just leave and keep our money here. let them build in....maybe....somolia.
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Raysmom

People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln

Member Since: 10/17/2007


 

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