It was a win-win day for Obama as he hosted a historic Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. This was the 6,191 meeting of the Security Council. The five permanent and ten rotating members of the Security Council (including to name a few– Uganda, Austria, Croatia, Mexico and Libya (although Qaddafi did not show) voted unanimously in support of Resolution 1887.

The Resolution affirmed the Council’s commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons and to ensure nuclear safety and security. Obama said he’d hoped the Resolution would strengthen the global nonproliferation regime. He added that he wanted all countries to stop producing nuclear materials within four years. Obama underscored the United Nations institution was created at the “dawn of the atomic age.” But now, the goal should be a global partnership to commit to put an end to the production, smuggling, trade and financing of nuclear materials.

“Once more, the United Nations has a pivotal role to play in preventing this crisis.  The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.  And it brings Security Council agreement on a broad framework for action to reduce nuclear dangers as we work toward that goal.  It reflects the agenda I outlined in Prague, and builds on a consensus that all nations have the right to peaceful nuclear energy; that nations with nuclear weapons have the responsibility to move toward disarmament; and those without them have the responsibility to forsake them.”
The United States is expected to host a summit next April to keep nations on the four year agenda. The Summit proceedings further isolated North Korea and Iran and President Sarkozy of France emphasized that Iran has violated five security council resolutions and must be sanctioned and held accountable. He reiterated that North Korea has also threatened global security with the launch of missiles in April–and by ignoring several warnings by the Security Council to stop building its nuclear program.

United Nations US Ambassador Dr. Susan Rice met with reporters directly following the opening session:

“So we are very pleased at the outcome today. We view it as building important momentum going into next year’s Nonproliferation Review Conference, going into the president’s own Nuclear Security Summit next year. And of course, we had Secretary Clinton as well here today speaking before the CTBT session, underscoring our commitment to ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.”

The Ugandan representative said Africa was not interested in nuclear weapons but nuclear energy–which he said costs only 4-5 cents compared to 14 cents use in solar energy.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown from the United Kingdom added:

“Today we are at a watershed moment…a future of arms race or arms control.”

In a provocative speech delivered to the United Nations General-Assembly, President Mahmood Ahmadinejad of Iran called for an end to intimidation by western nations. He questioned how a small minority of countries had control over the economic policies of so many developing nations.

“I have talked about the two conflicting outlooks prevailing in our world; one that is based on the predominance of its materialistic interests through spreading inequality and oppression, poverty and deprivation, aggression, occupation and deception, and tends to bring the entire world under its control and impose its will on other nations. This outlook has produced nothing but frustration, disappointment and a dark future for the entire humanity.”

The other, he espoused, was in the belief and teachings of God.

Western powers, he cites, are “using the ugliest methods of intimidation and deceit under the mantle of freedom as a democratic practice, and approaches through which sometimes dictators are portrayed as democrats, lack legitimacy and must be totally rejected.”

Ahmadinejad argued in defense of Palestinians and said they had the right to arm themselves in self-defense. He also voiced strong support for Iraq’s right to self-governance. He emphasized reform and restructure of the United Nations as a central path to building partnerships globally.

Outside the UN, hundreds of anti-Ahmadinejad protesters voiced anger at his participation in the General-Assembly. Many still question his legitimacy as President of Iran.

Amidst a packed room full of security guards, press and dignitaries, President Obama spoke about global responsibilities and shared values among peoples in the world. This speech received a warm applause juxtaposed to a tepid reception to his United States action plan to tackle climate change at the UN Climate Summit held yesterday.

Obama identified four key pillars where the United States will focus in the coming years: 1) non proliferation, 2) promotion of peace and security, 3) preservation of the planet, and a 4)  global economy that advances opportunity for all people.

“When America acted unilaterally–this fed into reflexive anti-Americanism–I will never apologize for defending my nation and people–but it is my belief that in 2009-the interests of people are shared.”

He emphasized the use of technology to interconnect the world’s common goals, interests and responsibilities. He added now is the time for all the world to interconnect on a shared global response to genocide, mass atrocities, melting ice caps, persistent poverty and pandemic disease.

“Now, like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests.  But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 — more than at any point in human history — the interests of nations and peoples are shared.  The religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can forge new bonds among people, or they can tear us apart.  The technology we harness can light the path to peace, or forever darken it.  The energy we use can sustain our planet, or destroy it.  What happens to the hope of a single child — anywhere — can enrich our world, or impoverish it.”

Obama said he was mindful of the tough challenges ahead and was determined to lead the United States in the right direction. He added that political differences have caused many in the world to view Americans with skepticism and mistrust.

“On my first day in office, I prohibited — without exception or equivocation — the use of torture by the United States of America. I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and we are doing the hard work of forging a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law.  Every nation must know: America will live its values, and we will lead by example.”

UN Secretary_General, Ban Ki-Moon underlined that now is the time to act to put “united” ” back in the United Nations and to recognize green growth is the lifeline in the 21st century.”

The Secretary-General also touched on promoting democracy in Myanmar:

“We need friends and neighbors to do much more in the interest of its people so elections to be held next year will be seen as credible and open to all.”

The Secretary General has held a miserable record on Myanmar–many of the key government representatives have refused to meet with him upon his previous visits to the country.

The new 64th UN General Assembly President, Libyan Ali Abdussalam Treki said the question of the Arab and Israel conflict still remained unresolved and there is now “universal recognition that with rapidly deteriorating conditions in the Occupied Territories, the situation has become unbearable.”

Following Obama and his fellow Libyan, Muammar Qaddafi, shocked General Assembly hall participants–over 190 countries represented. He held up a copy of the United Nations Charter and slammed the preamble–citing hypocrisy and massive contradiction. He underlined the UN was created with the goal of preventing another World World II.

“We were not present at the time” he added. Now, “… You are like a decor. Like Hyde Park. You make your speech and then disappear. The General Assembly is the parliament of the world.”

Qaddafi underlined that the United Nations is tailored to the three countries that created the United Nations-namely the United States, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. “We are rejecting the UN charter and veto the charter. Since the preamble, 65 wars have broke out with millions of victims. And the Security Council members enjoy a veto given to themselves and not by election. Of the five permanent members–(US, UK, France, Russia and China)–only China was democratically elected.”

Qaddafi called for a full reform and breakdown of the Security Council and to turn the power over completely to the over 190 members of the General Assembly. “The Security Council is terrorism. We cannot leave it to the superpowers, this is terrorism in itself.”

The message was clear from the start of the largest ever climate summit– “Power Green Growth, Protect the Planet,” organized on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly. People across the globe are suffering from severe environmental consequences and its happening faster than ever predicted.

Djimon Hounsou, celebrity actor from the film “Blood Diamond,” headlined the summit and pleaded with participants:

“Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has asked itself who and what has created us? Why are we here and what is our legacy to those who follow us?” There is no escaping this fact–for one brief moment in time, we all exist on this same planet.  The world’s leading scientists warn that if we continue on this present course, life on this pale blue dot will be radically transformed. Indeed, it could cease to exist as we know it. That pale blue dot, the only home we have ever known.”

The Secretary-General added that climate change has increased pressure on water, food and land and exacerbated poverty. As the world’s glaciers continue to melt–the pace of the negotiations must be accelerated.

“You have the power to chart a safer and more prosperous course,” he added. “Now is your moment to act. Failure to reach broad agreement in Copenhagen will be morally inexcusable.”

The Secretary-General’s key man on climate change, Janos Pasztor, reiterated  the goals of the Summit:

“We have not heard of any country that said we did not need a agreement.  The only question now is what will be in that agreement–some countries are more interested in adaptation and others in financial provisions. At the end of the day, negotiations need to be able to go beyond immediate domestic concerns in every country.”

Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the horrifying statistics that recent sea levels have risen 17 centimeters.

“With this increase…every storm surge results in an increase to threats to life.”

Pachauri added the frequency of heavy precipitation events has increased in most areas. “The world is increasing emissions–which in the next decade will increase the temperature at a rate of over 12 degrees Fahrenheit.”

He said several island states will be immediately threatened including Bangladesh.

President Obama said  he hoped later this week to work with colleagues at the G-20 to phase out fossil fuel emissions.

“Most importantly, the House of Representatives passed in June a clean energy bill. Because no one nation can meet this challenge alone, the US has joined forces–in Trinidad, with the World Bank in developing nations–and put climate at the top of our diplomatic agenda. Taken together, these steps are a historic recognition. We understand the gravity of climate threats. We are prepared to act. We did not come here to celebrate progress –we came because there is so much more work to be done. As we head to Copenhagen, the hard work remains in front of us.”

“I am here today to say difficulty is no excuse for complacency. Each of us must do what we can, when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet. We also cannot allow the old divisions to block our progress, ” Obama added.

Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China launched a new plan at the Summit which underlined bold changes to promote and tackle global warming in 4 key areas:

1) intensified efforts to conserve energy and cut carbon dioxide per unit GDP by 2020 from 2005 levels, 2) vigorously develop nuclear and renewable energy, 3) energetically promote forest carbon by 40 million hectars by 2020 by 2005 levels and 4) step up efforts to develop green economy and climate friendly technologies.

“Global climate change has a profound impact on the survival of mankind and  a major challenge affecting all countries.  I wish to highlight a few principles. –the principle of common and differentiated consensus. Achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Developed countries should support developing countries in tackling climate change. We should make our endeavor a win win for both developed and developing countries. Promoting common development should be the basis of our effort. China has taken and will continue to take practical steps to tackle this challenge.”

China has planted 2.6 billion trees in a massive country-wide green campaign.

Jintao emphasized that China is implementing its national climate based program by reducing energy intensity, increase in forest coverage and sharing of renewable energy. He hoped in the years ahead, China will further integrate green climate actions into economic and social plans.

Former Vice President Al Gore, also known as the godfather of climate policy, addressed reporters directly after the Summit opening. He stressed the importance in getting the United States to sign off on the Markey-Waxman climate bill before Copenhagen.

“I think one of the most important statement made this morning by the President of the small island Maldives, is developed countries must undertake binding agreements on reductions. And the question of funding is obviously a necessary part of the agreement in order for an agreement to be ratified and accepted in developed countries—there has to be support, technology transfer and common obligations that are binding. I think that soil carbon conservation and re-carbonization of soil must be the next stage in this negotiating process. A clear signal should be set at Copenhagen.”

Japan was also highlighted as a key country and world’s top economy for added financial support to developing nations.

“I was extremely impressed by the new Prime Minister’s address–Japan has provided tremendous leadership on climate progress,” added Gore.

 

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New York City gears up for a busy week on climate, poverty, health pandemics, nuclear disarmament and conflict and peace negotiations. Over 100 world leaders from Russia, China, India, Iran and other developed and developing nations will gather at the UN’s Climate Summit and General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative and other smaller forums organized throughout the city. The climate debate is at the top of the agenda and industrialized leaders will travel to Pittsburgh at the end of the week where the G-20 will gather to discuss a plan to combat global warming ahead of a major international climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

Making your way through town, one can feel a buzz in the air–anti-Ahmadinejad and Qaddafi protests are rampant, as are tabloid papers masking themselves as the New York Post with headlines “We’re Screwed. What you’re not being told: Official City report predicts massive climate catastrophes, public health disasters.”

To add to the inflamed excitement, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, a lead organizer of Climate Week NY failed to show up at his city’s climate opening ceremony. But other notables took the reign including former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair who’s climate group launched a report today entitled”Breaking the Climate Deadlock: Cutting the Cost.”

The report outlines the economic benefits for countries that go green and reduce carbon emissions. The findings indicate that if a deal is reached at the global Copenhagen climate conference in December, cutting emissions could potentially create as many as 10 million new jobs in 2020 and thus generate additional economic growth via the adoption of low carbon technologies that  accelerate sustainable development in developing countries.

“This is more difficult that all the negotiations where I have been involved including the Middle East peace process and NATO,” Blair added. “However, there is a way — we must distinguish short term and long term targets. 2020 is a long way ahead. The enormous cost savings that can be achieved if countries act together are striking.”

CEO of the Climate Group, Steve Howard, summarized: “Climate Week is a partnership to see how we can come up with a successful deal in Copenhagen–but there is a lot of lifting to be done.”

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, said he wanted to ask Mayor Bloomberg to begin calling New York the “Big Green Apple.”

Celebrity actor Hugh Jackman also joined the opening ceremony and shared his “going green” experiences based on a recent trip to Ethiopia. Todd Stern, United States Special Envoy for Climate Change and the Administrator’s chief negotiator said he was hopeful Obama would go to Copenhagen with or without a Senate approved climate bill.

Representatives from China and India also commemorated the day–both recently lauded for implementing effective national plans to boost green energy. The word is also out that China plans to unveil an ambitious energy conservation plan tomorrow at the UN Climate Summit. According to Yves de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), who met with reporters earlier this morning, “Everyone knows about the one or two power plants China opens up every week, but nobody knows that China is also closing one or two power plants every week as well.” De Boer added “China doesn’t need anybody’s money, but they want to cooperate on clean technology.”

Nevertheless, de Boer believes “Obama is doing his darndest. But the international community is saying, what is the United States doing in all of this? Why has the protocol son not joined the international community?”

Many international skeptics have criticized the United States for being the world’s biggest polluter per capita, and at the same time, being slow to approve the Markey-Waxman bill and other climate change initiatives –when other countries have sped far ahead on this agenda.

Across town, at the Natural History Museum in New York’s Upper West Side, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) including Cape Verde, Grenada, Nauru, Maldives and Trinidad, got together to talk about the “murder” being committed by industrialized nations on small islands. Lead organizer, President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives said “Climate Change is already delivering damage not of our making. Should we, leaders of the most vulnerable and exposed countries, be asking our people to sign onto significantly greater degrees of misery and livelihood insecurity, essentially becoming climate change guinea pigs?”

AOSIS is calling on industrialized nations to demand a global warming limit in Copenhagen and to cut emissions by 45% by 2020. The Alliance group is also asking for global temperature increases to be well below 1.5 degrees C in order to ensure the survival of small and low lying islands and their inhabitants. Many smaller islands are disappearing leaving residents homeless due to rising water levels caused by melting polar ice caps and global warming.

 

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A controversial 574 page report issued today by the UN Fact Finding Mission led by Jewish born Justice Richard Goldstone, accuses the Israeli government of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report investigated all violations of humanitarian law under the jurisdiction of the President of the Human Rights Council which mandated the four body team to investigate abuse in Gaza from the period 27 December 2008 through 18 January 2009.

The team, led by the South African Goldstone, reviewed more than 10,000 pages of documentation, 1200 photographs and 30 videos. Testimonials of 38 witnesses were also conducted in Geneva and Gaza after the Israeli government refused the Mission entry to the West Bank and Israel. Israel also failed to cooperate with the Mission while the Palestinian Authority was cited as cooperative.

The Mission concluded that the Israeli military assault on Gaza included a carrying out of a “systematic policy of progressive isolation and deprivation of the Gaza Strip..and the overall and continuing policy aimed at punishing the Gaza population, and in a deliberate policy of disproportionate force aimed at the civilian population.”

The Mission found that the Israeli military used white phosphorous, flechettes and heavy metal weapons which the team believed should be banned. The Mission also cited several incidents when the Israeli armed forces used Palestinian residents as human shields.

The destruction of food supplies, water sanitation systems, residential houses, factories and schools underscored in the report suggested a full recommendation by the Mission, that these violations by Israel be turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and crimes of persecution. The Mission emphasized that responsibility directly lies with those who designed, planned, ordered and oversaw the operations, and not the entire Israeli military.

“Israeli forces launched direct attacks against civilians with lethal outcome” the report states.

The report also indicates abuses committed by Palestinian armed groups including the repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel.

“The real point here is the Israeli investigation has been conducted secretly by the military. It would be like having the domestic police force in New York investigate a murder by only interviewing the murderer” said Goldstone.

He also added the Israeli government has only investigated one case in seven months involving a theft of a credit card.

The report also reiterates “the harsh and unlawful practices of occupation, far from quelling resistance, breed it, including its violent manifestations.”

TRNS asked Goldstone if he was hopeful further cases may be investigated by the Israeli courts and whether there was any faith left in the Israeli judicial system, and he nodded that there must be a way “through accountability and effective action.”

The report recommends Israel immediately cease border closures and restrictions, release all Palestinian prisoners, allow the passage of goods including reconstruction of housing materials to the Gaza strip, and to cease from interference in the national political processes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The report also asks the Israeli government to review its rules of engagement for military and security personnel.

“I’ve had an association with Israel my whole life. Long before the state of Israel was born my mother was part of the Zionist movement in South Africa. But as a Jew, I am greatly disappointed that Israel behaved this way. It is grossly wrong to label a Mission that is critical of Israel as being anti-Israel. It is in their interest that the truth be established,” added Goldstone.

Today the United Nations and the global community commemorated the International Day of Democracy. The WorldPublicOpinion.org released new findings based on a random sampling of 24 nations including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Germany, China, India, Israel, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia and the United States to name a few.  The overall consensus was that over 60 percent of the 21,285 people interviewed, believed they were not completely free to express their political views and could not influence government decisions. Ninety percent of the total polled want to live in a “democratically” governed country.

It seemed a odd mix to hold China’s communist structure up to the other countries which all preach a democratic agenda. Steven Kull, who authored the report, said that there was “no censorship” in the responses and questioning of Chinese academics and institutions. China is the world’s largest prison for journalists and cyber-dissidents. The country also routinely filters websites (including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft) of language including the word democracy, and the phrases free Tibet, free Taiwan and the Dalai Lama.

According to the Inter Parliamentary Union– a UN body, democracy is taken from the Greek word for demos “the people” and kratein which means “to rule”.

Russia was also included in the random study where the bloody murders of over 21 reporters since 2000 including Anna Politkovska remain to be properly investigated by Russian courts.

Questions from the random sampling of telephone numbers in countries included “How important do you think it is for people to be free to express unpopular political views, without fear of being harassed or punished?”  These questions again seem oddly placed in the context of Russia and China and many of the other countries including Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan–where the opposing view or any view criticizing the government has left many civilians in danger for their lives and livelihoods–most recently journalists, students, academics, opposition party members, activists and bloggers.

UN official Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said the UN will use this report to further underscore the importance of the global demand for democratic governance in countries across the globe. He also cited lack of “governability” in countries which leads to a break down in electoral processes.

A most recent case is Afghanistan where a top UN electoral official, American Peter Galbraith was kicked out of the country today after an unsettled feud with his boss, Norwegian Kai Eide. Galbraith apparently alleged the UN has dramatically failed to respond to last month’s fraudulent presidential elections.

For a full copy of the Political Intolerance report go to: http://worldpublicopinion.org.

Switzerland beat out the United States as the World’s top competitive financial market according to a new report released today by the Geneva based World Economic Forum.

The report entitled: The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, underscores:

“The global economy continues to weather the most difficult climate in generations. What began as a financial crisis in the United States and the United Kingdom quickly turned into the largest global recession in decades. World GDP is expected to contract by a record 2.5 percent in 2009 as the financial crisis continues to spill over into the real economy, engendering massive declines in consumer demand,rising unemployment,and mounting protectionist pressures worldwide.”

The report highlights the United States drop to second place for the first time since the group began its index in 2004.  Severe financial loses labeled as the worst since the Great Depression and ongoing budget gaps were the main indicators for the drop.

The report nevertheless emphasized the drop in the US may not be permanent.

“The country (US) continues to be endowed with many structural features that make its economy extremely productive and that place it on a strong footing to ride out business cycle shifts and economic shocks.”

The Swiss were lauded for their recent innovation in the financial sector while maintaining stability inside their current economic markets. The report tallied the progress of 133 countries.

For a full copy of the report go to: http://www.weforum.org/en/index.htm

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council met today in Wiesbaden, Germany to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The clear outcome of the meeting is still unknown–but a major component is whether Iran intends to fully suspend its nuclear enrichment program.  Germany, not a permanent member of the UN Security Council, played host with a spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry adding the purpose of the meeting was to “consult on possible courses of action….on Iran’s unsatisfactory position.”

IAEA chief Mohamed El Baradei said tough sanctions being proposed by the United States, France and Germany should be avoided and that “Iran’s nuclear program is not the greatest threat to the world. In many ways, I think the threat has been hyped.”

Iranians have denied all charges and pledged to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes only. The country’s lack of legitimacy follows a bloody election coup this summer. Some international officials believe Iran’s recent actions may indeed cut off communication with a previously optimistic President Obama.

Iran’s nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili fought back this week claiming, “Iran is prepared to present a revised package of proposals … and is ready to hold talks with world powers”.

Ambassador Susan Rice, who took the reigns as President of the UN Security Council this month suggested “We hope Iran’s response which we have not seen as effective, will be prompt.”

A US lobby group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) began an online petition this week to garner worldwide support for tougher sanctions on Iran. UANI said it will forward the signatories of the petition to President Obama, G-20 countries, and the mayor of Pittsburgh, where the upcoming G-20 summit will be held on Sept 24-25.