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GPF Newsletter
November 09 - November 13, 2009

Security Council Social and Economic Policy International Justice Nations States UN Finance UN Reform Iraq Empire? Dark Side of Natural Resources

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Security Council

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UN

Time for an Arms Trade Treaty (November 11, 2009)
The UN has agreed to host a major diplomatic conference in 2010 with the aim to finalize an Arms Trade Treaty. But the success of an Arms Trade Treaty will exceed the formulation of a written agreement - it will require civilian compliance. Miliband and Kouchner, the UK and French foreign ministers, argue that curbing the spread of weapons will require awareness and moral understanding throughout all societies. For this reason, they argue that NGOs will have an increasingly vital role to play in challenging this destructive trade. (The Guardian)
Turning a Blind Eye to Rape and Killing in Congo (November 10, 2009)
The Congolese Government is unwilling to prosecute rebels and government soldiers responsible for numerous counts of sexual violence and murder. The Government claims to fear that such action would fuel rebellion and destabilization. The author, UN Human Rights Commisioner Navi Pillay, disputes the idea that justice may be sacrificed for the sake of peace. There can, she says, be no long lasting peace or stability without justice, so the Congolese Government has a minimal obligation to investigate all allegations of human rights violations. (Huffington Post)
UN Affirms Israeli-Hamas War Crimes Report (November 5, 2009)
The UN General Assembly (GA) has passed a resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report by a majority of 114 countries in favor, with 18 countries voting against and 44 abstaining. The resolution calls upon both Israelis and Palestinians to undertake independent investigations on alleged war crimes committed during Israel's "Operation Cast Lead." The GA's endorsement comes after the Security Council refused to take a vote on the report in October, and the US House of Representatives rejected it on November 3rd. Despite Israeli and US efforts to bury it, the report is not going away. (IPS)

Social and Economic Policy

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Government Technology

Global Crisis Makes US More Dependent on China than Ever (November 11, 2009)
The world financial crisis has changed the nature of the relationship between China and the US. China has launched the world biggest economic stimulus package and kept the country growing. About two-thirds of China's foreign currency reserves are in dollar and a shift in currency values might be a disaster for the US. China is challenging the US as the Chinese Air Force General Xu Qiliang announced that China plans to become a world power by the mid-21st century. Obama administration is keen on starting an age of cooperation with the Chinese. (Spiegel)
"We feel exposed to greater risks now" - local aid workers (November 9, 2009)
After last week's attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, the UN has decided to move temporarily some of its staff to locations outside Afghanistan. Local aid workers, who believe that they are more at risk than international employees, want the UN to be present in the country. The UN's Special Representative in Afghanistan insisted that the organization is not evacuating. But local NGOs say that UN's staff relocation - even temporary- will adversely impact their projects and activitiess. (Irinnews)
Brown Calls for Global Transaction Tax (November 7, 2009)
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is the latest supporter of a global financial transaction tax, already promoted by France and Germany. Canada, the United States and Russia have opposed this idea. Within the UK, the opposition Conservative Party is against Brown's proposal, saying he "is chasing headlines." (The Wall Street Journal)
Food Security and Agricultural Mitigation in Developing Countries (November 5, 2009)
Food crisis and climate change are challenging agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a new report, which points out that farming significantly contributes to the green house gas emissions while suffering from global warming at the same time. One of the key factors to mitigate climate change and meet food demand is the restoration of organic soils. The report calls for a more holistic vision that looks beyond narrow and unsustainable solutions. (FAO)
Livestock's Long Shadow (November 2006)
The global livestock sector provides livelihoods for one billion people but it generates a large amount of greenhouse gasses. It accounts for 65 percent of nitrous oxide release as well as large amounts of methane, both far more potent than carbon dioxide. In addition, livestock causes land degradation and water pollution. This report calls for a new policy framework that acknowledges and mitigate the deep environmental effect of livestock. (FAO)

International Justice

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Justice 4 Consumers

International Prosecution of Senior Kenyan Politicians for Post Election Violence looks Inevitable (November 8, 2009)
The Kenyan Government has refused to grant the ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno- Ocampo, permission to prosecute the Kenyan politicians who were responsible for post election violence in 2007. In order to prosecute, Ocampo must seek permission from the ICC's own pre trail chamber. Ocampo's evidence against the accused leaders is strong and it is likely the ICC will approve the trial. But the ICC must tread carefully to avoid fuelling further turmoil in the lead-up to the 2012 elections: the leaders who used violence to gain power, are likely to use violence to try to keep control. (Christian Science Monitor)
ICTY: Self-Representation Under Scrutiny (November 6, 2009)
Judges have decided to appoint a lawyer to defend former Serb leader Radovan Karadzic in spite of his claims to represent himself. While self-representation is a right enshrined in the statute of the tribunal, it has led in the past to interminable trials turned by the defendant into a forum for political grandstanding. Slobodan Milosevic's trial dragged for so long that he died of a heart attack before justice could be done. Furthermore, the right to self-representation conflicts with the right to a fair trial in highly complex legal cases in which defendants can often incriminate themselves further because of their lack of courtroom experience. (IWPR)

Nations States

Concern Over Iceland EU Bid as Public Support Tanks (November 9, 2009)
At the height of the financial crisis, Iceland petitioned the EU for membership. The EU accepted to put Iceland on a fast track, and this week Iceland appointed their EU negotiations minister. But as the crisis fades, Icelandic public opinion against EU membership hardens. If put to a referendum, it seems likely that Iceland would vote "no" to EU membership. Many Icelanders are concerned that - with a population of 320,000 - their voice would be lost on the European stage. Furthermore, perceptions of the British -unpopular for using anti-terror legislation to freeze UK assets in Iceland - are being conflated with attitudes toward the EU as a whole. (EUobserver)
Building Blocs (November 9, 2009)
Post-communist states in Europe have enjoyed different degrees of success in their efforts to democratize. Political scientist Joshua A. Tucker argues that a factor toward explaining this pattern is a country's relative chances of gaining membership in the EU. The prospect of EU membership, with the expected benefits this entails, helps states overcome the first hurdles of democratization. (The New Republic)

UN Finance

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UN

Finding Agreement on Member States' Assessments Complicates Budget Approval (November 10, 2009)
There is a growing disagreement among member states on how to determine their assessments to the UN budget. Currently, the "capacity to pay principle" means that the US, the EU and Japan pay as much as 80% of the regular budget. The G77 and China do not wish to change this method, but the EU labels the status as unacceptable, urging new and emerging economies, such as China and Brazil, to pay a larger share of the budget. To have the assessments reflect the current economic situation, Switzerland and Liechtenstein suggest that the states' capacity to pay be based on more recent data than from the period 2001-2007 used today. (Center for UN Reform)
Money Fights Are Brewing at the United Nations as Its Budget Season Heats Up (November 8, 2009)
UN member states are intensely negotiating the organizations' new budget as well as the level of dues each government must pay. Major donor states want the big developing countries such as Brazil, China and India to pay more. Developing countries accuse the rich countries of undermining the UN's essential goals by pushing for a "zero growth" policy. (The New York Times)
Statement by Japan on Proposed Program Budget for 2010-2011 (October 29, 2009)
Japan urges the fifth committee to apply zero nominal growth to the UN regular budget. This means that the budget is pre-established during the negotiation process with no adjustments to compensate for changes in exchange rates. The Japanese Ambassador believes that this strategy will encourage the UN to find more creative and cost-effective alternatives. He argues that the result will be a more effective and accountable world body. (Meanwhile, Japan has announced a $1 billion per year aid package for Afghanistan, a place where accountability and honesty is minimal). (Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN)

UN Reform

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United Nations

Statement by Colombia and Italy on Security Council Reform (April 20, 2009)
To create a more efficient Security Council, Columbia and Italy propose either to eliminate the veto or to limit the extent of its power. In addition, the participation by non-permanent members ought to be enhanced. The two countries also criticize the current balance between the main bodies of the UN, arguing that the Security Council is not accountable to the General Assembly and increasingly undertakes tasks originally assigned to the larger body. (Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN)

Empire?

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World Maps Online

Blackwater Said to Pursue Bribes to Iraq After 17 Died (November 10, 2009)
In September 2007, Blackwater contractors opened fire on a crowd in Nisour Square, killing 17 Iraqi civilians and wounding many others. Following this attack, a US-Iraqi joint investigation was launched, focusing on the shootings themselves as well as on the wider use of Private Security Contractors in Iraq. In order to counter any repercussion from the shootings , Blackwater gave bribes - amounting to one million dollars - to Iraqi officials so as to buy their silence. (New York Times)
Where Will They Get the Troops? (November 8, 2009)
US troops who desert or go AWOL face an uncertain future if they turn themselves in. Currently, the US Army makes them to wait months to face military justice. But the US Army "offers" them amnesty and a way out of this legal limbo - if the person agrees to return to Afghanistan or Iraq. The US Army will do this regardless of whether a soldier is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or from other mental health problems. The Army has also generally been downplaying severe mental health issues in order to keep troops "deployable." (TomDispatch)

Dark Side of Natural Resources

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UN

Key Oil Figures Were Distorted by US Pressure, Says Whistleblower (November 9, 2009)
The world is going to run out of oil even earlier than predicted, says a senior official at the International Energy Agency (IEA). The whistleblower claims that the organization has been deliberately downplaying the seriousness of a looming oil shortage for fear of triggering panic buying. Under pressure from the US, the agency has been underplaying the rate of decline of existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves. These revelations cast serious doubt on the World Energy Outlook, a report on oil demand and supply published every year by the IEA on which many governments rely to set their energy and climate change policies. (The Guardian)
Conflicts Over Water Have Potential to be Catalysts for Peace, Cooperation (November 6, 2009)
Specialists and UN officials recently discussed the security implications of increased water scarcity during a panel on "Enhancing governance on water" held by the UN Second Committee (Economic and Financial). As a specialist in water resource policy and conflict resolution pointed out, the last formal war over water was fought in 2,500 B.C. Since then, water-related treaties have proven particularly resilient, even as cross-border conflicts raged. But while the risk of international conflict over water is low, regional and sub regional water disputes are a real security concern, with deep ramifications for poverty and food security. (UN)
Burma, Bangladesh, Border Build Up (October 21, 2009))
Bangladesh, Burma and India all lay claim to potentially lucrative oil and gas fields in the Bay of Bengal. The maritime dispute between the countries is a source of increasing tension. Bangladesh has asked the United Nations to mediate, and Burma has approached the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a technical body, to investigate. In the mean time, oil companies persist in their exploration projects. The strain caused by the dispute is not confined to maritime law - it impacts regional politics also - in particular the status of refugees along the Bangladesh/Burma border. (ISN Security Watch)

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