Youth and AIDS
In an interview with the delegates from the MSF, they expressed concern over the lack of attention being given to young children in the WHO and UNDP. Their concern was primarily about the neglect to young children suffering from AIDS, with too much being focused on older youths.
MSF argues that young children must be protected, primarily because they are going to be adults twenty years down the road, which stands in contrast to youths who will be taking up their yoke of responsibility in society within the next five to ten years. Knowing that they will form the economically productive population base in society within the next generation, their numbers must not be depleted before they can reach their age of coming. They also wish to see children protected for purely compassionate reasons.
Though I agree with the MSF on the need to protect children, I believe that the focus and direction of the UNDP to focus on older youths is correct. They are the ones that will be caring for this decade’s young children when their parents die off (life expectancy in Africa is considerably shorter than in first-world nations), and they will be the ones that will support them financially. By going with the Canadian and Norwegian initiatives to provide training to them in HIV/AIDS education, and by ensuring that they are able to return home with the funds needed to promote AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment programs, they will be able to invoke local change within their own communities, which may prove far more effective than relying on NGOs and their bureaucracies.
Given Africa’s general reluctance to see the West’s intervention in their domestic conflicts (Darfur, Uganda and Somalia are prime examples), it would be reasonable to argue that Africa wishes to have more independence in governing their own matters. While NGOs and other national aid agencies in the West may be able to provide expertise and funding, true change can only be invoked when local people are involved in their own communities. We see this with Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, who were locally involved in their own communities to bring about great change. I believe that the UNDP’s initiative by Norway and Canada, if it pulls through, will help not only the African region but also other AIDS-afflicted regions such as Haiti and India to overcome their AIDS epidemic problem.
As such, I would like to applaud the UNDP’s initiatives on youth education. If any resolution gets passed today, I believe this is the one that will come first.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
News Flash: Terrorist Apprehended
A suspected terrorist involved in one of the recent bombings has been apprehended.
News Flash: Canada and Italy Bombed
Toronto Stock Exchange and the Piazza have been bombed. Anonymous sources have said that this may have been done by young female bombers.
Special Press Request from Lebanese Delegation
The Lebanese delegation has requested Aftenposten to publish their statement on the recent rocket attacks on German vessels. Their statement is as follows:
The Lebanese Republic wishes to address recent reports of attacks on UNIFIL Naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea near our shores. Vague reports have stated these rocket attacks emerged from Lebanese soil. Reports also stated that Dutch and German vessels suffered damage. The Lebanese Republic wishes to extend its condemnation of these acts, and also the act by an unknown terrorist organization; the suicide bombing of the German Parliament building. We wish to reiterate our ongoing support of the UNIFIL forces effort to create and maintain peace and stability in southern Lebanon. Further the Lebanese Republic extends our heartfelt sympathies to the families and victims of these attacks.
Remembering the instances that led to a brutal and ruthless destruction of our country by the Israeli State this past summer, we want to avoid any misunderstandings, which our aggressors might seek to use against us again. We had no knowledge of the horrific acts prior to their occurrence. Nor does the Lebanese Republic endorse such behaviour by non states groups such as Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Republic cannot reemerge as a prosperous, peaceful state if its government is last to know and first to be held accountable for acts by terrorist organizations unjustly claimed to be rooted in our country.
The Lebanese Republic wishes to address recent reports of attacks on UNIFIL Naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea near our shores. Vague reports have stated these rocket attacks emerged from Lebanese soil. Reports also stated that Dutch and German vessels suffered damage. The Lebanese Republic wishes to extend its condemnation of these acts, and also the act by an unknown terrorist organization; the suicide bombing of the German Parliament building. We wish to reiterate our ongoing support of the UNIFIL forces effort to create and maintain peace and stability in southern Lebanon. Further the Lebanese Republic extends our heartfelt sympathies to the families and victims of these attacks.
Remembering the instances that led to a brutal and ruthless destruction of our country by the Israeli State this past summer, we want to avoid any misunderstandings, which our aggressors might seek to use against us again. We had no knowledge of the horrific acts prior to their occurrence. Nor does the Lebanese Republic endorse such behaviour by non states groups such as Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Republic cannot reemerge as a prosperous, peaceful state if its government is last to know and first to be held accountable for acts by terrorist organizations unjustly claimed to be rooted in our country.
News Flash: GA1 Progress
Germany and China are leading a resolution in support of the gradual phasing out of biological weapons. One clauses that has been introduced involve stipulating that a country's sovereignty will not be compromised upon, which garnered support from major players such as Russia and Israel. Additionally, a clause for phasing out biological weapons is being discussed in Germany's proposed resolution.
It seems that a resolution will be finalized soon.
It seems that a resolution will be finalized soon.
Editorial 3: The Holy See’s Crusade, Youth and Aids
The Holy See’s Crusade
In response to the orphanage attack in Uzbekistan, the Holy See has declared a Holy War against Muslim nations. In doing so, he has made a mockery of the Roman Catholic Church by repeating the mistakes of Dark Age Europe. By insisting his belief that “God will take care of everything”, he has relied on his “access to God” to wantonly wage a war that will undoubtedly end up in the suffering of millions across East Europe, Middle-East, Central and Southeast Asia.
Ironically, this announcement comes after the Pope visited Turkey and declared solidarity with Muslims in the belief in the “One True God”. This 180-degree turn in stance raises a number of questions about the conservative Pope’s integrity. Was he being hypocritical when he visited Turkey? Was the visit simply an exercise in public relations? Does the leader of Roman Catholics worldwide harbor hatred towards Muslims in the same way that Osama bin Laden harbors contempt for the West?
Does the killing of innocents by Islamic extremists warrant an extremist response from His Holiness Pope Benedict? I believe not. His delegation’s extreme statements reflect badly upon the Holy See’s stature as a spiritual leader of over 1 billion people around the world, and I would urge his delegates to retract their statements as soon as possible.
The Norwegian Church has been outspoken against having another crusade, criticizing the Pope’s return to the late Dark Ages of Europe in his attitudes. Additionally, the Church has cited the failed wars of modern times in Iraq, Eastern Europe and Rwanda as reasons not to go to war now. Muslims in Norway stand together with the Norwegian Church in opposing the move, and urged dialogue between both sides.
However, fanatical fundamental Christians have started rallying in Oslo, parading down the streets holding banners calling for the Norwegian Church to sponsor trips down to the Vatican to rally around the Pope. Conservative politicians have also lobbied for a “positive response to the Pope’s war cries”.
Will Norway’s government and Church bow down to pressure and sponsor trips to the Vatican? Will fanaticism overtake modern society? Can we prevent another erroneous disaster?
Here in Norway, we urge the world to take caution, and not to subscribe to the ideology of fanaticism. Access to God doesn’t mean true belief.
Youth and Aids
In an interview with the delegates from the MSF, they expressed concern over the lack of attention being given to young children in the WHO and UNDP. Their concern is primarily about the neglect to young children suffering from AIDS, with too much being focused on older youths.
MSF argues that young children must be protected, primarily because they are going to be adults twenty years down the road, which stands in contrast to youths who will be taking up their yoke of responsibility in society within the next five to ten. Knowing that they will form the economically productive population base in society within the next generation, their numbers must not be depleted before they can reach their age of coming. They also wish to see children protected for purely compassionate reasons.
Though I agree with the MSF on the need to protect children, I believe that the focus and direction of the UNDP to focus on older youths is correct. They are the ones that will be caring for this decade’s young children when their parents die off (life expectancy in Africa is considerably shorter than in first-world nations), and they will be the ones that will support them financially. By going with the Canadian and Norwegian initiatives to provide training to them in HIV/AIDS education, and by ensuring that they are able to return home with the funds needed to promote AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment programs, they will be able to invoke local change within their own communities, which may prove far more effective than relying on NGOs and their bureaucracies.
Given Africa’s general reluctance to see the West’s intervention in their domestic conflicts (Darfur, Uganda and Somalia are prime examples), it would be reasonable to argue that Africa wishes to have more independence in governing their own matters. While NGOs and other national aid agencies in the West may be able to provide expertise and funding, true change can only be invoked when local people are involved in their own communities. We see this with Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, who were locally involved in their own communities to bring about great change. I believe that the UNDP’s initiative by Norway and Canada, if it pulls through, will help not only the African region but also other AIDS-afflicted regions such as Haiti and India to overcome their AIDS epidemic problem.
As such, I would like to applaud the UNDP’s initiatives on youth education. If any resolution gets passed today, I believe this is the one that will come first.
In response to the orphanage attack in Uzbekistan, the Holy See has declared a Holy War against Muslim nations. In doing so, he has made a mockery of the Roman Catholic Church by repeating the mistakes of Dark Age Europe. By insisting his belief that “God will take care of everything”, he has relied on his “access to God” to wantonly wage a war that will undoubtedly end up in the suffering of millions across East Europe, Middle-East, Central and Southeast Asia.
Ironically, this announcement comes after the Pope visited Turkey and declared solidarity with Muslims in the belief in the “One True God”. This 180-degree turn in stance raises a number of questions about the conservative Pope’s integrity. Was he being hypocritical when he visited Turkey? Was the visit simply an exercise in public relations? Does the leader of Roman Catholics worldwide harbor hatred towards Muslims in the same way that Osama bin Laden harbors contempt for the West?
Does the killing of innocents by Islamic extremists warrant an extremist response from His Holiness Pope Benedict? I believe not. His delegation’s extreme statements reflect badly upon the Holy See’s stature as a spiritual leader of over 1 billion people around the world, and I would urge his delegates to retract their statements as soon as possible.
The Norwegian Church has been outspoken against having another crusade, criticizing the Pope’s return to the late Dark Ages of Europe in his attitudes. Additionally, the Church has cited the failed wars of modern times in Iraq, Eastern Europe and Rwanda as reasons not to go to war now. Muslims in Norway stand together with the Norwegian Church in opposing the move, and urged dialogue between both sides.
However, fanatical fundamental Christians have started rallying in Oslo, parading down the streets holding banners calling for the Norwegian Church to sponsor trips down to the Vatican to rally around the Pope. Conservative politicians have also lobbied for a “positive response to the Pope’s war cries”.
Will Norway’s government and Church bow down to pressure and sponsor trips to the Vatican? Will fanaticism overtake modern society? Can we prevent another erroneous disaster?
Here in Norway, we urge the world to take caution, and not to subscribe to the ideology of fanaticism. Access to God doesn’t mean true belief.
Youth and Aids
In an interview with the delegates from the MSF, they expressed concern over the lack of attention being given to young children in the WHO and UNDP. Their concern is primarily about the neglect to young children suffering from AIDS, with too much being focused on older youths.
MSF argues that young children must be protected, primarily because they are going to be adults twenty years down the road, which stands in contrast to youths who will be taking up their yoke of responsibility in society within the next five to ten. Knowing that they will form the economically productive population base in society within the next generation, their numbers must not be depleted before they can reach their age of coming. They also wish to see children protected for purely compassionate reasons.
Though I agree with the MSF on the need to protect children, I believe that the focus and direction of the UNDP to focus on older youths is correct. They are the ones that will be caring for this decade’s young children when their parents die off (life expectancy in Africa is considerably shorter than in first-world nations), and they will be the ones that will support them financially. By going with the Canadian and Norwegian initiatives to provide training to them in HIV/AIDS education, and by ensuring that they are able to return home with the funds needed to promote AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment programs, they will be able to invoke local change within their own communities, which may prove far more effective than relying on NGOs and their bureaucracies.
Given Africa’s general reluctance to see the West’s intervention in their domestic conflicts (Darfur, Uganda and Somalia are prime examples), it would be reasonable to argue that Africa wishes to have more independence in governing their own matters. While NGOs and other national aid agencies in the West may be able to provide expertise and funding, true change can only be invoked when local people are involved in their own communities. We see this with Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, who were locally involved in their own communities to bring about great change. I believe that the UNDP’s initiative by Norway and Canada, if it pulls through, will help not only the African region but also other AIDS-afflicted regions such as Haiti and India to overcome their AIDS epidemic problem.
As such, I would like to applaud the UNDP’s initiatives on youth education. If any resolution gets passed today, I believe this is the one that will come first.
Major Update 3: Triple Stalemate
Delegates were unable to reach a resolution after a total of 9½ hours of intense caucusing. In all three fronts, namely AIDS, biological weapons and alternative energy for Africa, negotiations were stalled over debates regarding definitions of terms (alternative energy, biological weapons), clarification on positions and cliques forming within the committees. The major productive action that took place was the drafting of working papers, but with four or five competing papers being circulated at once, delegates were confused over the progress being made within their committees as a whole.
Biological Weapons (GA1)
The US/UK partnership wanted to focus on confidence-building measures, such as specific ways that nations can release information, and pushed for improved transparency in doing so. The UK also stated its favorable stance in support of allowing a country to conduct its own inspections. Additionally, the UK cited a fear for a “leak of intelligence” as one of its major concerns for its resolution’s concentration on confidence-building measures.
On the other side of the table, Croatia and China regarded the Ukraine/US/UK proposal as “complete garbage” in that it “attempt[s] to magnify past mistakes”. They are firmly against any overseeing body; however, it is notable that most Islamic countries were subversive and against monitoring. China and Croatia believe that none-state actors are needed, in order to get to the grassroots of the problems when tackling them; this is done in a bid to avoid governmental bodies in order to improve transparency.
AIDS (UNDP)
Three major working papers are being written at the time of writing, with the working paper led by the Norway, Canada and Russia enjoying the most support.
The United States still refuses to budge on abstinence, but has not come out more specifically on their position. They will provide funding for education and treatment programs, but will not provide funding for prevention programs unless abstinence is promoted.
Canada’s position on the United States’ abstinence clause is that it is a culturally sensitive clause, and would not propose that abstinence be enforced. It would definitely accept the clause, however, provided that it does not get used as a preliminary measure; rather it must be introduced as the “last-ditch” resort provided all other means of contraception is culturally taboo. Norway’s six-point proposal, which was just recently reduced to five, is still in effect.
When interviewed, the MSF agrees with elements of each draft resolution, and would particularly like to see increased anti-retroviral treatment, and agrees with Canada, Norway and Russia on funding, but would like to see more action for young children in addition to older youths. MSF applauded having actual financial aid for older youths to carry out innovative projects in their home countries to stop the spread of AIDS.
Alternative Energy (WB)
The definition of alternative energy was still being debated yesterday, yet even though the issue was put to the table quite a number of times, the majority of motions for unmoderated caucuses were voted down.
It appeared that the EU bloc, led by the UK in their initiative, would like to see privatization of alternative energy, while the African nations preferred to have a public fund pool. The issue has now been resolved, with the EU and AU delegates working together on one working paper, but the details have not been finalized yet.
Additionally, the G8 and the AU had further issues over the distribution of funding. While the African Union would like to see themselves take complete control over the distribution of funding, the G8 and other donor nations would like to have some control over how each project is funded, to ensure accountability. The deadlock over this issue still has not been resolved yet.
OPEC, on the other hand, expressed their desire to expand oil infrastructure, usage and production in Africa, for this gives the most immediate results in rebuilding and developing the African economy. They warned that if the AU voted to the contrary of their wishes, there would be deliberate moves to halt supply of oil.
Other News
Ukraine alleges that the Russian government is backing a terrorist group in Georgia, and that it has been one day since the attacks and would like to see Russia come out with an apology on this. Russia denies all accusations, saying that they have “no involvement in these actions”.
Biological Weapons (GA1)
The US/UK partnership wanted to focus on confidence-building measures, such as specific ways that nations can release information, and pushed for improved transparency in doing so. The UK also stated its favorable stance in support of allowing a country to conduct its own inspections. Additionally, the UK cited a fear for a “leak of intelligence” as one of its major concerns for its resolution’s concentration on confidence-building measures.
On the other side of the table, Croatia and China regarded the Ukraine/US/UK proposal as “complete garbage” in that it “attempt[s] to magnify past mistakes”. They are firmly against any overseeing body; however, it is notable that most Islamic countries were subversive and against monitoring. China and Croatia believe that none-state actors are needed, in order to get to the grassroots of the problems when tackling them; this is done in a bid to avoid governmental bodies in order to improve transparency.
AIDS (UNDP)
Three major working papers are being written at the time of writing, with the working paper led by the Norway, Canada and Russia enjoying the most support.
The United States still refuses to budge on abstinence, but has not come out more specifically on their position. They will provide funding for education and treatment programs, but will not provide funding for prevention programs unless abstinence is promoted.
Canada’s position on the United States’ abstinence clause is that it is a culturally sensitive clause, and would not propose that abstinence be enforced. It would definitely accept the clause, however, provided that it does not get used as a preliminary measure; rather it must be introduced as the “last-ditch” resort provided all other means of contraception is culturally taboo. Norway’s six-point proposal, which was just recently reduced to five, is still in effect.
When interviewed, the MSF agrees with elements of each draft resolution, and would particularly like to see increased anti-retroviral treatment, and agrees with Canada, Norway and Russia on funding, but would like to see more action for young children in addition to older youths. MSF applauded having actual financial aid for older youths to carry out innovative projects in their home countries to stop the spread of AIDS.
Alternative Energy (WB)
The definition of alternative energy was still being debated yesterday, yet even though the issue was put to the table quite a number of times, the majority of motions for unmoderated caucuses were voted down.
It appeared that the EU bloc, led by the UK in their initiative, would like to see privatization of alternative energy, while the African nations preferred to have a public fund pool. The issue has now been resolved, with the EU and AU delegates working together on one working paper, but the details have not been finalized yet.
Additionally, the G8 and the AU had further issues over the distribution of funding. While the African Union would like to see themselves take complete control over the distribution of funding, the G8 and other donor nations would like to have some control over how each project is funded, to ensure accountability. The deadlock over this issue still has not been resolved yet.
OPEC, on the other hand, expressed their desire to expand oil infrastructure, usage and production in Africa, for this gives the most immediate results in rebuilding and developing the African economy. They warned that if the AU voted to the contrary of their wishes, there would be deliberate moves to halt supply of oil.
Other News
Ukraine alleges that the Russian government is backing a terrorist group in Georgia, and that it has been one day since the attacks and would like to see Russia come out with an apology on this. Russia denies all accusations, saying that they have “no involvement in these actions”.
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