Eduardo del Buey, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
About 8,000 people
have died from cholera in Haiti and thousands more have been made ill.
Photograph: Thony Belizaire/AFP/Getty Images
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Eduardo del Buey: "UN don't care about 8000 dead haitians"
Click here for this at minute 20:25 of video : http://webtv.un.org/watch/daily-press-briefing:-sgs-travels-drc-security-council-palestinians-darfur-human-rights/2188780398001/
If you think that United States are the only one using surveillance drones....think again! A United Nations drone maybe flying over your heads right now !
Click here for this in full @ : http://www.talkradionews.com/united-nations/2013/02/21/un-bids-unarmed-drone.html#.USy4f-jTroA
Bidding will get underway next month for the contract to provide the United Nations its first unarmed surveillance drone.
By LUKE VARGAS
UNITED NATIONS (TRNS) – The United Nations is currently soliciting bids for the procurement of the body’s first unarmed surveillance drone.
Bid number RFPS-1794 from the U.N.’s Procurement Division details a request for “provision of one (1) unmanned aerial system (UAS) for three (3) years plus two (2) optional years” in support of the ongoing U.N. mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Security Council decided last month that the use of of surveillance drones would enhance the effectiveness of its peacekeeping operations in the DRC’s eastern territories, where the M23 rebel group has continued to pose a security risk and limit the authority of the country’s army.
While the inclusion of drones in the U.N.’s peacekeeping strategy seems a logical move given the surveillance limitations of ground forces, the world body has typically played the role of reporting the harmful effects of drones.
Just this week, a U.N. report found that the increased use of armed drones by the United States in 2012 resulted in 16 civilian deaths in Afghanistan, a jump from only one in 2011.
In addition to the UAS request, the U.N. is concurrently soliciting bids on geospatial image interpretation services to “extract topographic features and information,” presumably from the aforementioned drone.
The Guardian: UN will not compensate Haiti cholera victims, Ban Ki-moon tells president World body invokes legal immunity to rebuff claims despite studies identifying UN peacekeepers as source of the outbreak
Click here for this in full @ The Guardian : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/21/un-haiti-cholera-victims-rejects-compensation
The UN has taken the rare step of invoking its legal immunity to rebuff claims for compensation from 5,000 victims of the Haiti cholera
epidemic, the worst outbreak of the disease in modern times and widely
believed to have been caused by UN peacekeepers importing the infection
into the country.
Citing a convention laid down in 1946, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, telephoned President Michel Martelly of Haiti to tell him that the UN was not willing to compensate any of the claimants. The epidemic has killed almost 8,000 people and stricken hundreds of thousands more – about one out of every 16 Haitians.
Citing a convention laid down in 1946, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, telephoned President Michel Martelly of Haiti to tell him that the UN was not willing to compensate any of the claimants. The epidemic has killed almost 8,000 people and stricken hundreds of thousands more – about one out of every 16 Haitians.
Helen Clark on Reddit says: "ask me anything" ...! Our question is : NZ press alleges you are a lesbian - what is your response to that?
Click here for this in full @ : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10867421
Former prime minister Helen Clark will dive into the social news website Reddit on Tuesday morning for an "ask me anything" chatroom.
It is the same forum used by US President Barack Obama during his election campaign last year and made popular by the website's 43 million users.
The IAmA ("I am a") Reddit is one of the most clicked-on by the site's users and prompts others to AMA ("ask me anything").
Miss Clark has been put up for the web chat by the United Nations in her role as director of the UN's Development Programme.
The UN shared the news about Miss Clark's planned Reddit chat on its Twitter account and invited questions about Millennium Development Goals, though users will, as the name suggests, be able to ask the former prime minister whatever they like.
New Zealanders wanting to join the chat will have to be up early though, with it set to start at 4.30am (10.30am eastern standard time in the United States).
You can join her Reddit chat at reddit.com/r/iama.
Previous high-profile people to take part in IAmA chats have included Bill Gates, Stephen Colbert and Bear Grylls.
- APNZ
Forbes: Yes! We Should Defund The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change
Click here for this in full @ Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/24/yes-we-should-defund-the-u-n-s-intergovernmental-panel-on-climate-change/
Rajendra K. Pachauri, the chair of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Photo by Mikhail
Evstafiev (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Congressman Luetkemeyer strongly objects to the UNFCC’s use of IPCC’s suggestions and faulty data to implement a job-killing agenda here in America.
He argues: “The American people should not have to foot the bill for an international organization that is fraught with waste, engaged in dubious science, and is promoting an agenda that will destroy jobs and drive up the cost of energy in the United States. Unfortunately, the president appears to be ready to fund these groups, revive harmful policies like cap and trade, and further empower out of control federal regulators at a time when we should be doing everything possible to cut wasteful spending, reduce regulatory red tape, and promote economic growth.”
Thursday, February 21, 2013
New Zealand press alleges: "Helen Clark (is) a lesbian" ...
From New Zealand with love :
- a story of a lot, gay sex, drunken parties, drugs, troughing and bribery.
Click here for this in full at : http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/tag/jonathan-hunt/
All available lines to New York will be taken up tonight by
Labour as they seek guidance from Helen Clark after Ian Wishart dropped a
bombshell on Labour in the latest issue of Investigate. This is an epic
Tory party style sex scandal, except all the players are Labour elite.
It’s got the lot, gay sex, drunken parties, drugs, troughing and
bribery.
The article is huge and can be summarised as follows:
Tim Barnett is pictured, by Goulter, as a typical poof, preying on/grooming youngsters and trying to cheat on his partner. Basically a mini-me Chris Carter with out the camel jockeys. It is clear that Goulter is (or was) a teenage star-chaser and no doubt rated his access a lot higher than the reality was.
However you have to ask what possible motive could a member of parliament have for allowing a troubled teen who has basically been exited from school hang around with him to the extent that he did.
Barnett has been caught lying and so has Chris Carter. Especially the wedding angle. And that sad old poof Jonathon Hunt needs to be asked some hard questions too.
This story shows pretty much the entire senior echelon of Labour with the exception of Jacinda Ardern and Phil Goff (ironically described as “a bit of a nobody”) seem to be a bunch of fag-hags, pederasts and perverts who once they get a little bit of power will use it unwisely.
The one who got caught out in the biggest lie however was Lianne Dalziel who facebooked to Goulter how she had lied about knowing him! Actually I would go so far as to call it outrageous that a child is allowed to attach himself to the inner core of the Labour government, with access to parliament to seemingly come and go as he pleases and have what can only be described as an inappropriate relationship with non family adult males.
Barnett’s alleged comments about the bulldog and the Clark/Simpson/Tizard triangle of terror is priceless. Pure gold.
One thing that doesn’t hold true to me about the traditional description of Clark’s Labour governemnt is that it doesn’t appear that Heather Simpson knew anything about it otherwise the kid’s bum would be whacked back to Mincer Mika faster than you could say “oh Helen”. I simply can’t imagine she would be loose enough politically to let an uppity, teenage bi-sexual drama-queen near the circle of influence. I know real bad pun.
The one thing in Goulters favour is he had the good sense to call Tony Milne and Michael Wood names…plus he hates Jacinda, and writes off Young Labour as “a bunch of smelly fat unattractive people”. Two words people, Sonny and Thomas.
A truly bizarre account of the inner working of Labour. Now we watch and see what falls out. There are certainly some large inconsistencies in the stories but also some information that could only have been gleaned by actually being there on the inside.
Click here for this in full at : http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/tag/jonathan-hunt/
The article is huge and can be summarised as follows:
- Claims Tim Barnett encouraged a 14 year old to leave school to work in his office. Is this grooming?
- Claims former Mayor Gary Moore also part of enticement with job offers. Labour pals stick together.
- Truancy Officer was Labour supporter and aided and abetted truancy. More pals involved.
- Government money used to fly 14 year old numerous times around country. Troughing.
- Given free reign around parliament and Beehive as a 14-15 year old. WTF!
- Had Speaker Jonathan Hunt intervening in favour of 14 year old with security at Parliament. What else was Hunt involved in?
- Alleges Tim Barnett confides in 14 year old about Helen Clark, Heather Simpson and Judith Tizard being involved in lesbian affairs. First time this has aired in a major publication to my knowledge.
- Alleges Chris Carter was phoned and intervened on 14 year old’s behalf with CYFS to release 14 year old.
- Chris Carter denies knowing Hamish Jevan Goulter but Goulter has photos of Carters wedding on his Facebook page. Oh dear!
- Chris Carter denies Goulter at wedding. Pants on Fire?
- Chris Carter “remembers” pinging Goulter in parliament and “sending him home” to Christchurch. Very strange explanation
- Investigate holds emails between Goulter and Chris Carter arranging wedding details Has Carter lied?
- Barnett alleges that Goulter was trying to trace his birth mother and was emotional. Very strange reply to serious questions. How very intimate of Barnett to know all about the state of mind of a 14 year old.
- Lianne Dalziel knowing Goulter but Investigate publishes a photo of them together. Oh dear, can Lianne ever tell the truth?
- Dalziel apologises to Goulter in a Facebook chat for denying she knew him. Liar, Liar, pants on Fire.
- Tim Barnett and Labour functionary and
ADHB board member Dr. Ian Scott conspire to get drunk Goulter off work
to continue partying. More grooming behaviour, two drunk older gay men assisting a drunk underage teenager to abscond from work.
- Tim Barnett provided taxpayer funded taxi-chits to Goulter regularly. Oh they do trough don’t they.
- Alleges Helen Clark overrode Jacinda Ardern on issue of Goulter drinking at Premier House. Jacinda Ardern so far is the only Labour person who looks like and acts like a person with responsibility.
- Drank frequently with Michael Cullen, Lianne Dalziel, Ruth Dyson, and Annette King. Old soak eh Lianne? Always on the turps.
- Goulter alleges he spent considerable time in Jonathan Hunt’s office and flat, alleges he could do what he likes.
- Goulter alleges that Tim Barnett, his partner Ramon, Chris Carter, Charles Chauvel regularly smoked marijuana with him.
- Alleges Chris Carter and him were in regular contact and Carter enjoyed being out with “twinkies”.
- Alleges Michael Cullen also smoked Marijuana at Labour Conference.
- Carter says “no cigarette has passed his lips in 30 years”. Interesting choice of description. I have never heard of a joint referred to as a “cigarette”.
- Goulter alleges that Tim Barnett made homosexual advances on him.
- Goulter alleges Barnett made him sit down on a chair with him, and lunged and tried to kiss him.
- Goulter was at one time under the “care of the Speaker’s Office”. Whatever that is supposed to mean.
- Alleges Judith Tizard paid Mika hush money to keep Goulter quiet in election year via Arts grants. I always wondered what Tizard actually did, now we know, she allegedly paid the bribes.
Tim Barnett is pictured, by Goulter, as a typical poof, preying on/grooming youngsters and trying to cheat on his partner. Basically a mini-me Chris Carter with out the camel jockeys. It is clear that Goulter is (or was) a teenage star-chaser and no doubt rated his access a lot higher than the reality was.
However you have to ask what possible motive could a member of parliament have for allowing a troubled teen who has basically been exited from school hang around with him to the extent that he did.
Barnett has been caught lying and so has Chris Carter. Especially the wedding angle. And that sad old poof Jonathon Hunt needs to be asked some hard questions too.
This story shows pretty much the entire senior echelon of Labour with the exception of Jacinda Ardern and Phil Goff (ironically described as “a bit of a nobody”) seem to be a bunch of fag-hags, pederasts and perverts who once they get a little bit of power will use it unwisely.
The one who got caught out in the biggest lie however was Lianne Dalziel who facebooked to Goulter how she had lied about knowing him! Actually I would go so far as to call it outrageous that a child is allowed to attach himself to the inner core of the Labour government, with access to parliament to seemingly come and go as he pleases and have what can only be described as an inappropriate relationship with non family adult males.
Barnett’s alleged comments about the bulldog and the Clark/Simpson/Tizard triangle of terror is priceless. Pure gold.
One thing that doesn’t hold true to me about the traditional description of Clark’s Labour governemnt is that it doesn’t appear that Heather Simpson knew anything about it otherwise the kid’s bum would be whacked back to Mincer Mika faster than you could say “oh Helen”. I simply can’t imagine she would be loose enough politically to let an uppity, teenage bi-sexual drama-queen near the circle of influence. I know real bad pun.
The one thing in Goulters favour is he had the good sense to call Tony Milne and Michael Wood names…plus he hates Jacinda, and writes off Young Labour as “a bunch of smelly fat unattractive people”. Two words people, Sonny and Thomas.
A truly bizarre account of the inner working of Labour. Now we watch and see what falls out. There are certainly some large inconsistencies in the stories but also some information that could only have been gleaned by actually being there on the inside.
Click here for this in full at : http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/tag/jonathan-hunt/
Fox News: US, other nations quietly maneuvering to rein in sprawling, inefficient UN system
Read this in full @ Fox News : http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/20/us-other-nations-quietly-maneuvering-to-rein-in-sprawling-inefficient-un-system/#ixzz2LXI24p76
Frustrated by the epic inefficiency, sprawling disorganization and free-spending of their money by the United Nations, a group of Western donor nations, including the U.S., has been meeting quietly to develop a strategy to rein in the world organization’s more than $20 billion a year in anti-poverty assistance – which even parts of the U.N. concede hasn’t done much to relieve poverty.
The donor group’s aim is to produce some kind of workable reform agenda for the bloated system that will actually achieve greater efficiency, less duplication and fragmentation of efforts, less corruption and a greater ability to see where their money actually goes.
So far, the would-be reformers are mostly trying to figure out how cost-efficient U.N. programs are, and what management tools the widely differing U.N. organizations can be pressed into adopting.
The U.N. organizations themselves — including such high-profile entities as the United Nations Development Program, UNICEF, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization and more than 30 others —are not invited to the meetings.
According to a document summarizing one of the closed-door sessions obtained by Fox News, the group of 17 reformer nations is aware that they have a long march ahead to reshape the chaotic U.N. system, make it more rational, or even more financially comprehensible.
The document summarizes the most recent meeting of the reformers in
the Swedish capital of Stockholm last November, and also looks forward
to their next strategy session, known as the Senior Level Donor Meeting
on Multilateral Reform, in Berlin next April.
When queried by Fox News for information about the meeting, a spokesman for Germany’s federal Ministry for Economic Development Cooperation merely acknowledged that the session was taking place.
According to the Stockholm document, the donor nations, which include most major Western European nations, as well as Canada, Australia and the U.S.—but not Japan—are not trying to cut costs, but rather are about “achieving more with available resources.”
In response to questions from Fox News, a spokesperson for Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID), one of the major forces behind the reform exercise, says that “U.N. agencies know that cost effectiveness is an important priority for the U.K.—it is one of the criteria DFID used to assess the value for money of U.N. agencies in the U.K.’s multilateral aid review, which we are updating later this year.”
But in rare public discussions of the exercise, participants from Britain, for example, have also pointed to recent small but significant cuts to the administrative budgets of a few of the bigger agencies, amounting to about 5 percent, as fruit of their nearly year-long efforts.
And Britain has already been more draconian than that. DFID, widely considered to be one of the most aggressively reformist of donor organizations, announced in early 2011 that it would walk out of four smaller U.N. agencies that it had found in its original multilateral aid review had contributed little “value for money” for Britain’s investment, and were ranked “poor” in terms of their impact.
When questioned by Fox News about the British statements on administrative budget cuts, a spokesman for the largest U.N. development agency, UNDP, declared that the organization had cut its proposed 2012-2013 “institutional” budget by about $49 million, “equivalent to a 5 percent reduction” from the previous two-year total.
But the spokesman also said the reductions “formed part of a process initiated by UNDP in exercising budgetary discipline, for example, by eliminating non-essential services and identifying cuts to lower priority functions.”
At Stockholm, the reformist group agreed that “donors and multilateral organizations alike need to look at the causes of proliferation and fragmentation and possible options for their reduction.”
One possible translation: fewer and better-organized U.N. agencies — though the agencies themselves may have different views than the countries who identify that problem.
The U.N. system is a major cause of frustration and confusion for those who pay the bills—as well as those who are supposed to benefit from them. The U.N. system includes 37 agencies and organizations that spend money on “development-related operational activities,” as a U.N. summary document puts it. The biggest is the United Nations Development Program, the U.N.’s anti-poverty flagship, which according to a U.N. study accounted for 33 percent of all of the world organization’s resources for “development-related activities.”
Another cause of frustration is the spaghetti-like tangle of ways that donor nations contribute money to the U.N. system, through annual dues-like assessments, voluntary contributions for specific projects or themes, collective contributions through organizations like the European Commission, or through an increasing stream of private contributions that the governments of wealthy nations do not control.
Another is the U.N.’s awesome inefficiency, both in terms of bang for the buck and in terms of actually alleviating the desperate poverty that opens Western wallets in the first place.
A variety of expert studies, including one published in May 2012,
have
rated U.N. agencies at the low end of effectiveness among
organizations, governments and institutions around the globe, and ranked
them equally as low for their willingness to discuss their finances and
operations.
And as recently as last month, the United Nations Development Program’s executive board learned from its own internal evaluators that their organization’s anti-poverty efforts often have “only remote connections with poverty.”
The maze-like complexity of the U.N. system is one reason why the donor nations who will meet in Berlin have put the issue of “proliferation and fragmentation” high on their list for reform. How they hope to do that is still unclear. According to the document obtained by Fox News, Germany’s federal Ministry for Overseas Cooperation and Development, or BMZ, will lead discussion on the issue by means of a study of “the incentive structures” beyond the increasing bureaucratic tangle.
The Stockholm document also underscores the remarkable amount donor nations do not know about the welter of U.N. organizations, which do not keep track of costs or program spending in similar ways, do not manage their efforts or staff effectively in terms of results, do not conduct audits in similar fashion, and do not promote or enforce the same rules on combating corruption.
As just one example, in Stockholm, donors “discussed the lack of capacity in [U.N. executive] boards with regard to audit expertise,” which was highlighted in a study by host Sweden. (The U.N.’s drastic lack of such expertise has also been highlighted by a U.N. watchdog, which also pointed out that the auditors are often overly dependent on the people they are supposed to be auditing.
The Stockholm conclave agreed that “there was a continued need to discuss reform and to form coherent messages to drive change,” as well as continued “coordination among donors” and even “clarity on what success looks like.”
The donors have also agreed to institutionalize themselves through an organization they created a decade ago, known as the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network, or MOPAN. This year it will establish its own permanent Secretariat.
CLICK HERE FOR THE STOCKHOLM DOCUMENT
The big question — which is unlikely to be answered at Berlin in April—is whether a new organization of U.N. donors with another strange acronym will truly help to cut back on the bewildering U.N. bloat and inefficiency — or add further to it.
George Russell is executive editor of Fox News and can be found on Twitter@GeorgeRussell
Click here for more stories by George Russell
Frustrated by the epic inefficiency, sprawling disorganization and free-spending of their money by the United Nations, a group of Western donor nations, including the U.S., has been meeting quietly to develop a strategy to rein in the world organization’s more than $20 billion a year in anti-poverty assistance – which even parts of the U.N. concede hasn’t done much to relieve poverty.
The donor group’s aim is to produce some kind of workable reform agenda for the bloated system that will actually achieve greater efficiency, less duplication and fragmentation of efforts, less corruption and a greater ability to see where their money actually goes.
So far, the would-be reformers are mostly trying to figure out how cost-efficient U.N. programs are, and what management tools the widely differing U.N. organizations can be pressed into adopting.
The U.N. organizations themselves — including such high-profile entities as the United Nations Development Program, UNICEF, the World Food Program, the World Health Organization and more than 30 others —are not invited to the meetings.
According to a document summarizing one of the closed-door sessions obtained by Fox News, the group of 17 reformer nations is aware that they have a long march ahead to reshape the chaotic U.N. system, make it more rational, or even more financially comprehensible.
Another cause of frustration is the spaghetti-like tangle of ways that donor nations contribute money to the UN system.
When queried by Fox News for information about the meeting, a spokesman for Germany’s federal Ministry for Economic Development Cooperation merely acknowledged that the session was taking place.
According to the Stockholm document, the donor nations, which include most major Western European nations, as well as Canada, Australia and the U.S.—but not Japan—are not trying to cut costs, but rather are about “achieving more with available resources.”
In response to questions from Fox News, a spokesperson for Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID), one of the major forces behind the reform exercise, says that “U.N. agencies know that cost effectiveness is an important priority for the U.K.—it is one of the criteria DFID used to assess the value for money of U.N. agencies in the U.K.’s multilateral aid review, which we are updating later this year.”
But in rare public discussions of the exercise, participants from Britain, for example, have also pointed to recent small but significant cuts to the administrative budgets of a few of the bigger agencies, amounting to about 5 percent, as fruit of their nearly year-long efforts.
And Britain has already been more draconian than that. DFID, widely considered to be one of the most aggressively reformist of donor organizations, announced in early 2011 that it would walk out of four smaller U.N. agencies that it had found in its original multilateral aid review had contributed little “value for money” for Britain’s investment, and were ranked “poor” in terms of their impact.
When questioned by Fox News about the British statements on administrative budget cuts, a spokesman for the largest U.N. development agency, UNDP, declared that the organization had cut its proposed 2012-2013 “institutional” budget by about $49 million, “equivalent to a 5 percent reduction” from the previous two-year total.
But the spokesman also said the reductions “formed part of a process initiated by UNDP in exercising budgetary discipline, for example, by eliminating non-essential services and identifying cuts to lower priority functions.”
At Stockholm, the reformist group agreed that “donors and multilateral organizations alike need to look at the causes of proliferation and fragmentation and possible options for their reduction.”
One possible translation: fewer and better-organized U.N. agencies — though the agencies themselves may have different views than the countries who identify that problem.
The U.N. system is a major cause of frustration and confusion for those who pay the bills—as well as those who are supposed to benefit from them. The U.N. system includes 37 agencies and organizations that spend money on “development-related operational activities,” as a U.N. summary document puts it. The biggest is the United Nations Development Program, the U.N.’s anti-poverty flagship, which according to a U.N. study accounted for 33 percent of all of the world organization’s resources for “development-related activities.”
Another cause of frustration is the spaghetti-like tangle of ways that donor nations contribute money to the U.N. system, through annual dues-like assessments, voluntary contributions for specific projects or themes, collective contributions through organizations like the European Commission, or through an increasing stream of private contributions that the governments of wealthy nations do not control.
Another is the U.N.’s awesome inefficiency, both in terms of bang for the buck and in terms of actually alleviating the desperate poverty that opens Western wallets in the first place.
A variety of expert studies, including one published in May 2012,
have
rated U.N. agencies at the low end of effectiveness among
organizations, governments and institutions around the globe, and ranked
them equally as low for their willingness to discuss their finances and
operations.And as recently as last month, the United Nations Development Program’s executive board learned from its own internal evaluators that their organization’s anti-poverty efforts often have “only remote connections with poverty.”
The maze-like complexity of the U.N. system is one reason why the donor nations who will meet in Berlin have put the issue of “proliferation and fragmentation” high on their list for reform. How they hope to do that is still unclear. According to the document obtained by Fox News, Germany’s federal Ministry for Overseas Cooperation and Development, or BMZ, will lead discussion on the issue by means of a study of “the incentive structures” beyond the increasing bureaucratic tangle.
The Stockholm document also underscores the remarkable amount donor nations do not know about the welter of U.N. organizations, which do not keep track of costs or program spending in similar ways, do not manage their efforts or staff effectively in terms of results, do not conduct audits in similar fashion, and do not promote or enforce the same rules on combating corruption.
As just one example, in Stockholm, donors “discussed the lack of capacity in [U.N. executive] boards with regard to audit expertise,” which was highlighted in a study by host Sweden. (The U.N.’s drastic lack of such expertise has also been highlighted by a U.N. watchdog, which also pointed out that the auditors are often overly dependent on the people they are supposed to be auditing.
The Stockholm conclave agreed that “there was a continued need to discuss reform and to form coherent messages to drive change,” as well as continued “coordination among donors” and even “clarity on what success looks like.”
The donors have also agreed to institutionalize themselves through an organization they created a decade ago, known as the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network, or MOPAN. This year it will establish its own permanent Secretariat.
CLICK HERE FOR THE STOCKHOLM DOCUMENT
The big question — which is unlikely to be answered at Berlin in April—is whether a new organization of U.N. donors with another strange acronym will truly help to cut back on the bewildering U.N. bloat and inefficiency — or add further to it.
George Russell is executive editor of Fox News and can be found on Twitter@GeorgeRussell
Click here for more stories by George Russell
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Another New Zealander looser communist politician is joining UNDP: - Helen Clark turns the organization into a parking lot for the ultra-left corrupt
Click here for this in full @ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10866354
Labour MP Charles Chauvel is resigning from Parliament to take up a job with the United Nations in New York.
Mr Chauvel, a List MP, said he had resigned effective from March 11.
He will work for the UN Development Programme organisation former Prime Minister Helen Clark leads - as an advisor on Parliamentary Development and Democratic Governance.
Mr Chauvel said Ms Clark was not involved in his selection - "I don't think she even knows I have the job."
He said he had been a member of the UN Global Commission on HIV and the Law for the past two years and had found that work challenging.
"The new full-time role with the UN presents a similar opportunity to make a difference and I look forward to the challenges that it will present."
Former MP Carol Beaumont is next on Labour's list - followed by Kelvin Davis.
Labour leader David Shearer said Mr Chauvel had played an important role within Labour and would be missed.
Labour MP Charles Chauvel is resigning from Parliament to take up a job with the United Nations in New York.
Mr Chauvel, a List MP, said he had resigned effective from March 11.
He will work for the UN Development Programme organisation former Prime Minister Helen Clark leads - as an advisor on Parliamentary Development and Democratic Governance.
Mr Chauvel said Ms Clark was not involved in his selection - "I don't think she even knows I have the job."
He said he had been a member of the UN Global Commission on HIV and the Law for the past two years and had found that work challenging.
"The new full-time role with the UN presents a similar opportunity to make a difference and I look forward to the challenges that it will present."
Former MP Carol Beaumont is next on Labour's list - followed by Kelvin Davis.
Labour leader David Shearer said Mr Chauvel had played an important role within Labour and would be missed.
Monday, February 18, 2013
UNDP leadership fails to publicly disclose assets and interests (only 8 out 59 disclose)
2011 VOLUNTARY PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
The following is a list of Senior Officials of the United Nations at the level of Assistant Secretary-General and above who participated in the 2011 Voluntary Public Disclosure initiative (VPD).For those participants who chose to disclose their interests, a summary is provided. The summary contains a declaration of assets and interests for the 2010 calendar year which the Senior Official confidentially disclosed under the 2011 United Nations Financial Disclosure Programme (FDP).
The list has been presented in alphabetical order by family name.
These are the only ones who participated from UNDP:
Helen Clark (click here to read it in full)
Energy challenge to provide power for war returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Click here to read this in full @: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2012/11/30/undp-launches-energy-challenge-for-war-returnees-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina.html
Sarajevo -- The United Nations Development Programme launched a global challenge to find a renewable energy solution capable of providing off-grid power, with a $20,000 cash prize for the winner.
More than 3,000 families who returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina over 10 years ago after the war are still waiting for access to electricity. For most of returnees, houses have been reconstructed and basic living conditions restored, but they cannot refrigerate their food or illuminate their home.
The challenge, in partnership with Nesta, a UK-based charity that works to bring “great ideas to life,” calls for a sustainable, cost-effective solution for a standalone, off-grid renewable energy supply that can produce an average of 1,25 kWh and 120 litres of hot-water a day, to cover the needs of an average family in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina that will not cost more than €5,000.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
UNDP promotes Free Zones in Palestine Territories
Press Release
The Palestinian Industrial Estate and Free Zone Authority and the United Nations Development
Programme sign an Exchange of Letters funded by the Government of Japan
Ramallah – 07 February 2013 - The Palestinian Industrial Estate and Free Zone Authority (PIEFZA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in the presence of the Representative Office of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, signed an exchange of letters worth USD 1,487,532 to establish an administration building for the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park.
The project is part of the Government of Japan’s “corridor for peace and prosperity” initiative in the Jordan Valley which aims to establish a viable state for Palestinians accompanied with sustainable economic development through the strengthening of their partnership with neighbouring countries. The establishment of a sustainable administration facility for the JAIP will enhance access to effective social, economic and public services and utilities.
The United Nations Development Programme / Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People will work in close cooperation and partnership with its Palestinian counterparts, in particular the Municipality of Jericho and PIEFZA on all aspects of the project, noting that the administration building will become the home for PIEFZA operations that will serve the Industrial Park stakeholders.
On behalf of PIEFZA, the Minister of National Economy, H.E. Dr. Jawad Naji highlighted that “the Ministry is currently working on developing a comprehensive strategy for the Palestinian industrial zones which includes incentives, marketing elements and other commercial activities that shall form an enabling environment for investment”. The Minister also expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Japan for the generous fund and the United Nations Development Programme for their continued support to the Palestinian people.
The PIEFZA administration building will have an approximate total space area of 1,000 square metres (one dunum), in addition to the excavation and levelling works for four dunums to be used for the administration building and its services. Approximately 7,600 workdays will be generated as a result of the project, thus providing short term employment opportunities for the residents of Jericho and the Jordan Valley.
“JAIP has greatly progressed recently. I sincerely hope JAIP will contribute to creating the foundation for a Palestinian State and bring peace and prosperity to Jericho and the Jordan valley” stated the Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and the Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, H.E. Mr. Junya Matsuura. “The Government of Japan has extended its official development assistance for more than USD 50 million for Jericho and JAIP only, and USD 1.3 billion in total for the State of Palestine. We will continue to support the establishment of a viable independent Palestinian state,” he added.
“This industrial park supports the opportunities for the private sector in Jericho and the Jordan Valley” said Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator. “Without a vibrant private sector there is no future for a sustainable Palestinian economy” he added.
The signing ceremony was held on Thursday February 7th, 2013 in the presence of H.E. Dr. Jawad Naji, Minister of National Economy, H.E. Junya Matsuura, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs and Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator and Eng. Abdelrahman Shtayeh, the Acting Director-General of PIEFZA.
It is worth mentioning that this is the fourth phase of the JAIP project, funded by the Government of Japan. The prior three phases which included the rehabilitation works for 1.8 km connecting road, excavation and levelling works for 115 dunums, construction of a 2.15 km water transport line and a 1.5 km 4” pipeline, in addition to the construction of a 500 cubic metres water tank, were already completed and handed over.
For further information, please contact:
In Jerusalem: Dania Darwish, Communications Specialist, Tel. +972-2-6268229 -- e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org, Murad Bakri, Communications Office Assistant, Tel. +972-2-6268290 -- e-mail: murad.bakri@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see
http://www.undp.ps .
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Olav Kjorven is looking for a Director for UNDP's Seoul Policy Center (do you think it will be a fair selection..??)
DIRECTOR, UNDP SEOUL POLICY CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS | |
| Location : | Seoul, KOREA (REPUBLIC OF) |
| Application Deadline : | 22-Feb-13 |
| Type of Contract : | FTA International |
| Post Level : | D-1 |
| Languages Required : | English |
| Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) | 01-May-2013 |
| Duration of Initial Contract : | One (1) Year |
| Expected Duration of Assignment : | One Year (renewable) |
The Internet Gender Gap
Click here to read this in full @: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourperspective/ourperspectivearticles/2013/01/10/the-internet-gender-gap-magdy-martinez-soliman.html
The role of ICTs as development enablers is more widely understood today as access to new technologies, particularly mobile phones, has grown exponentially. Mobile phone subscriptions exceeded six billion by the end of 2012, three-quarters of which were in the developing world. However, women are at a disadvantage: they are 21% less likely to own a mobile phone than men, according to the latest Broadband Commission Report (PDF, 2.4Mb).
Development presents an opportunity to effectively address this and other gender gaps. I am speaking here about sustainable human development, about the ability to make choices and lead a healthy, long and educated life with all that we value.
The role of ICTs as development enablers is more widely understood today as access to new technologies, particularly mobile phones, has grown exponentially. Mobile phone subscriptions exceeded six billion by the end of 2012, three-quarters of which were in the developing world. However, women are at a disadvantage: they are 21% less likely to own a mobile phone than men, according to the latest Broadband Commission Report (PDF, 2.4Mb).
Development presents an opportunity to effectively address this and other gender gaps. I am speaking here about sustainable human development, about the ability to make choices and lead a healthy, long and educated life with all that we value.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
UN Report says: Canada worst than Africa on food security?
Click here for this @ : http://www.ipolitics.ca/2013/02/11/canada-needs-a-national-food-strategy-un-report/
A United Nations report says Canada needs a national food strategy, raising specific concerns about food security issues facing Native and northern communities.
The 21-page Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, was released in December. The report’s conclusions were based on De Schutter’s 11-day fact-finding mission across Canada last May, where he met with numerous government departments including Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, as well as Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq.
“The Special Rapporteur was disconcerted by the deep and severe food insecurity faced by Aboriginal peoples living both on- and off-reserve in remote and urban areas,” read the report.
A United Nations report says Canada needs a national food strategy, raising specific concerns about food security issues facing Native and northern communities.
The 21-page Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, was released in December. The report’s conclusions were based on De Schutter’s 11-day fact-finding mission across Canada last May, where he met with numerous government departments including Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, as well as Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq.
“The Special Rapporteur was disconcerted by the deep and severe food insecurity faced by Aboriginal peoples living both on- and off-reserve in remote and urban areas,” read the report.
After leaked memo on Angela Kane's involvement into potential scandal: - Ban Ki-moon requests that investigation go forward
Yesterday, after InnercityPress leaked an internal memo from OIOS, the office of Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) called for the investigation to go on!
Click here for the document @ InnercityPress: http://www.innercitypress.com/comvoios1icp.pdf
Click here for the document @ InnercityPress: http://www.innercitypress.com/comvoios1icp.pdf
ODI: A Conversation with Helen Clark
The Overseas
Development Agency (ODI) will host UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Administrator Helen Clark in an interactive event chaired by ODI
Director Alison Stevens. Clark, who also serves as the Chair of the UN
Development Group (UNDG), will speak about the post-2015 development
agenda and efforts to build ownership and reach consensus on a shared
development agenda.
venue: Overseas Development Institute
location: London (England), United Kingdom
additional: 12:30-14:00 GMT at ODI.
The event will also be screened live online.
www: http://www.odi.org.uk/events/3120-conversation-helen-
Conflict and Development: Inclusive Governance, Resilient Societies
Click here to read this in full @: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/speeches/2013/02/11/helen-clark-conflict-and-development-inclusive-governance-resilient-societies/
My thanks go to Dr. David Rodin for the invitation to speak here on the important topic of conflict and development.
This university is home to a great deal of academic research on the relationship between conflict and development –including that of Paul Collier on the economic causes of civil wars, and Frances Stewart on the link between horizontal inequalities and conflict.
Alas, one does not need to look for long for examples of conflict impacting on development. Take the case of Mali: almost a year ago, conflict in the north of the country and a military coup derailed two decades spent building democracy and pursuing development there. Elections were scheduled to be held in Mali a month after that coup took place – and the President, adhering to the Constitution, had clearly stated that he would not be a candidate.
Mali’s experience is not atypical or unique – it is an example of the types of conflicts the world is increasingly witnessing. The conflict there is not a war between states, but, rather, within a state. It has regional dimensions – in this case the upheaval in Libya had spillover effects for the north of Mali, and Mali’s regional neigbours in ECOWAS have been very engaged in the debate about what to do. The battle lines of the conflict were not clearly drawn, either territorially or in terms of issues, suggesting more complex dynamics at play.
My thanks go to Dr. David Rodin for the invitation to speak here on the important topic of conflict and development.
This university is home to a great deal of academic research on the relationship between conflict and development –including that of Paul Collier on the economic causes of civil wars, and Frances Stewart on the link between horizontal inequalities and conflict.
Alas, one does not need to look for long for examples of conflict impacting on development. Take the case of Mali: almost a year ago, conflict in the north of the country and a military coup derailed two decades spent building democracy and pursuing development there. Elections were scheduled to be held in Mali a month after that coup took place – and the President, adhering to the Constitution, had clearly stated that he would not be a candidate.
Mali’s experience is not atypical or unique – it is an example of the types of conflicts the world is increasingly witnessing. The conflict there is not a war between states, but, rather, within a state. It has regional dimensions – in this case the upheaval in Libya had spillover effects for the north of Mali, and Mali’s regional neigbours in ECOWAS have been very engaged in the debate about what to do. The battle lines of the conflict were not clearly drawn, either territorially or in terms of issues, suggesting more complex dynamics at play.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Rethink economic growth for Arab social justice: UNDP and ILO
Click here for this in full at: http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2013/02/rethink-economic-growth-for-arab-social-justice-undp-and-ilo/
Listen / Download
Young man on skateboard
That, according to a joint report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) released Tuesday.
The report titled "Rethinking Economic Growth: Towards Inclusive and Productive Arab Societies", says the region's greatest deficits have been in the areas of social protection and social dialogue.
It says policies pursued during the 1990s and 2000s enabled countries in the region to tackle debt and inflation, spur economic growth and create jobs. But, growth lagged behind the rest of the world, new jobs were concentrated in low productivity sectors, and government paid little attention to the social consequences of their economic policies.
SCANDAL: Already a “failure of management,” UN computer project turns out to be an epic shambles for Ban Ki-moon
Read in full at Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/11/already-failure-management-un-computer-project-turns-out-to-be-epic-shambles/?test=latestnews#ixzz2KcEniJCa
For more than three years, a sophisticated computerized management system intended to be a cornerstone of United Nations reform has been one of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s most embarrassing train wrecks, described as a “failure of management” on Ban’s part. Now, the world organization’s attempts to salvage the system -- known in-house as Umoja, a Swahili term for unity – have turned into an even bigger scandal.
Even after an admission that it was three years behind its initial scheduled completion as of a year ago, Umoja has been a victim of U.N. mismanagement, misjudgment and almost surreal levels of ineffective implementation, according to internal U.N. documents. Meantime, U.N. member states, including the U.S. – the organization’s biggest financial contributor-- fling additional tens of millions of dollars at the dysfunctional ERP project to turn it around.
For more than three years, a sophisticated computerized management system intended to be a cornerstone of United Nations reform has been one of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s most embarrassing train wrecks, described as a “failure of management” on Ban’s part. Now, the world organization’s attempts to salvage the system -- known in-house as Umoja, a Swahili term for unity – have turned into an even bigger scandal.
Even after an admission that it was three years behind its initial scheduled completion as of a year ago, Umoja has been a victim of U.N. mismanagement, misjudgment and almost surreal levels of ineffective implementation, according to internal U.N. documents. Meantime, U.N. member states, including the U.S. – the organization’s biggest financial contributor-- fling additional tens of millions of dollars at the dysfunctional ERP project to turn it around.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
With MDGs set to expire in 2015: UNDP leadership is trying to set new mandates and expand their agendas
Click here for this in full @ Global Post: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/healthcare-beyond-2015-undp-helen-clark-harvard-hsph
Helen Clark talked to the Harvard School of Public Health about global health and what lessons we can learn from the Millenium Development Goals, set to expire in 2015.
BOSTON, Massachusetts—Helen Clark, administrator of the United Nations Development Program, spoke at the Forum at the Harvard School of Public Health on Thursday, January 15.
Clark spoke about addressing social determinants of health, and the need to look at health and environment in the promotion of sustainable development. She also discussed what we can learn from the Millennium Development Goals, which are set to expire in 2015. Here are some highlights from her talk.
Monday, February 4, 2013
SCANDAL: Iran selects UNDP as its trusted partner to manage internal crisis
UNDP at its best
inks agreement with despot regime of Iran to strengthen its ability to suppress internal crisis
Click here for this in full @ Fars News: http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107141660
Official: UNDP, Iran Sign MoU
TEHRAN (FNA)- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and
Iran's Crisis Management Organization inked a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation between two sides.
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"By signing the MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran is cooperating with the UNDP office in Tehran in the field of reducing the risk of (unprecedented) events," Head of Iran's Crisis Management Organization Hassan Qadami said on Sunday.
"This office cooperates on different issues such as reducing poverty, fighting drug addiction, environment and issues related to crisis management of incidents," the official said.
He said that the Iranian officials should be able to implement the plans for reinforcing the buildings and preventing the incidents as well as supplying other countries with emergency assistance in case they are affected by unprecedented incidents.
The Head of UNDP office in Tehran Balasubramaniam Murali, for his part, said that the signed five-year state program with Iran includes four main sections.
"Reducing the risk and damage caused by natural disasters were among main sections of the program," he added.
The UNDP is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.
UNDP is an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP Administrator is the third highest-ranking official of the United Nations after the United Nations Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General.
United Nations blog - costs 23 staffers in NY @ $1.9Million
Who gives a Sh*t about the poor ?!
U.N. spends $1.9 Million in a blog for itself!
Click here for this: http://blogs.un.org/blog/tag/undp/#sthash.vh8XM2HC.dpbs
RFA criticizes U.N. CFS draft study on biofuels & food security
Click here for this in full @ : http://americanagnetwork.com/2013/01/rfa-criticizes-u-n-cfs-draft-study-on-biofuels-food-security/
The U.S. CFS appointed a panel of what they consider to be high level experts to conduct the study. RFA points out that Timothy Searchinger, an outspoken critic of biofuels and author of a highly controversial 2008 report on indirect land use change, is among the appointed panelists.
RFA does agree with the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) that: “…investment in bioenergy could spark much-needed investment in agricultural and transport infrastructure in rural areas and, by creating jobs and boosting household incomes, could alleviate poverty and food [in]security.”
The RFA comments can be read in full here.
Source: RFA
January 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Renewable Fuels Association yesterday submitted comments
condemning a U.N. Committee on World Food Security draft study on
biofuels and food security.The U.S. CFS appointed a panel of what they consider to be high level experts to conduct the study. RFA points out that Timothy Searchinger, an outspoken critic of biofuels and author of a highly controversial 2008 report on indirect land use change, is among the appointed panelists.
Geoff Cooper, RFA’s Vice President for Research and Analysis, said the group’s draft report “needs substantial revision before it can be submitted for official peer review. Not only does the report fail to discuss potentially positive impacts of biofuels expansion on food security, but it also inappropriately expands the intended scope of the study, blatantly disregards input from the May 2012 consultation, fails to include a comprehensive literature review, and adopts highly questionable assumptions regarding animal feed co-products, crop yields and other factors.”The RFA comments reflect the association’s belief that “biofuels are providing tangible benefits and positive outcomes for both the world’s farmers and consumers. RFA believe biofuels can bring the same benefits to developing nations without jeopardizing food security. RFA also said biofuels have the potential to serve as an important tool in reducing food insecurity.”
RFA does agree with the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) that: “…investment in bioenergy could spark much-needed investment in agricultural and transport infrastructure in rural areas and, by creating jobs and boosting household incomes, could alleviate poverty and food [in]security.”
The RFA comments can be read in full here.
Source: RFA
Did Helen Clark lie about "Global Wariming" ?
“[Results] do suggest the possibility of a much larger impact of solar variations on the stratosphere than previously thought, and some studies have suggested that this may lead to significant regional impacts on climate,” reads a draft copy of a major, upcoming report from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The man who leaked the report, StopGreenSuicide blogger Alec Rawls,
told FoxNews.com that the U.N.’s statements on solar activity were his main motivation for leaking the document.Friday, February 1, 2013
India's Puri says: "Poverty should be the focus of all UNDP agendas"
Click here for this in full @: http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-130051.html#.UQvDn7bTroA
''For the UN development system to be successful globally, it needs to be firmly rooted in its core focus area, which has primarily to be development related only, and that the 'D' in UNDP should stand for decimating poverty,''
China urges UNDP to change !
Click here for this in full @: http://www.china-un.org/eng/hyyfy/t1010021.htm
UNDP is the biggest UN development agency and the " UN anti-poverty organization -- a world partnership against poverty and hunger ". When implementing its core function to help the developing countries reduce and eradicate poverty, UNDP should strictly abide by the principle of country ownership and leadership as well as the fundamental characteristics of the operational activities, which is neutrality, multilateralism, and the grant nature.
The Chinese delegation urges UNDP, on the basis of carefully studying and analyzing the evaluation reports on poverty reduction, to pay due attention to improving its work, implementing recommendations contained in the reports and providing feedback in this regard. UNDP should also base its work on the realities and needs of world poverty and continuously improve the pertinence and effectiveness of its program planning and implementation to achieve its ultimate contribution to poverty reduction.
UNDP is the biggest UN development agency and the " UN anti-poverty organization -- a world partnership against poverty and hunger ". When implementing its core function to help the developing countries reduce and eradicate poverty, UNDP should strictly abide by the principle of country ownership and leadership as well as the fundamental characteristics of the operational activities, which is neutrality, multilateralism, and the grant nature.
The Chinese delegation urges UNDP, on the basis of carefully studying and analyzing the evaluation reports on poverty reduction, to pay due attention to improving its work, implementing recommendations contained in the reports and providing feedback in this regard. UNDP should also base its work on the realities and needs of world poverty and continuously improve the pertinence and effectiveness of its program planning and implementation to achieve its ultimate contribution to poverty reduction.
At UNDP-EB meeting Israel says: "Time for leadership changes at UNDP"
PRESSURE INCREASES FOR HELEN CLARK TO GET OUT !
Click here for full text of this @: http://embassies.gov.il/un/statements/committee_statements/Pages/UNDP-Statement-on-Poverty.aspx
Mr. President,
An
old Yiddish proverb says, "You cannot control the wind, but you can
adjust the sails." UNDP’s evaluations allow us to do just that — to
re-adjust our thinking and our policies so that we can maximize our
impact. And despite the complex nature of the
challenges UNDP faces, Israel strongly believes that, with the help of
these reliable and independent evaluations, UNDP will be well-equipped
to reach the full range of its development goals.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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