Sep 21, 2011

Today, September 21, is International Day of Peace ("Peace Day").

It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

The day provides an opportunity for all of us, individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace. On this day, we are reminded to take a take the pledge to end intolerance.

We can't resolve all the many conflicts that plague our world in one day, but we can in our various little ways do more to promote tolerance and inclusiveness wherever we live.

http://internationaldayofpeace.org/

International Peace Day 2011

9/21/2011 04:28:00 PM ,

Sep 11, 2011

As the United States and the world commemorate the tenth anniversary of the attack of 9/11, the focus has been on the 3,000 people who died in the attacks in the US on that day. These were the direct causalities of 9/11 and it is proper to remember them on this solemn anniversary. However, we must not forget that these are not the only victims of 9/11. The tens of thousands of innocent civilians who have died in the “global war on terror” triggered by 9/11 are also indirect victims of the attack. According to some estimates, as at 2007, the civilian casualties (“collateral damage”) in Iraq since the invasion is over 200,000. In Afghanistan, the figure is over 50,000.

The 10th anniversary of that terrible attack offers us an opportunity to honour the memory of all the innocent victims by working for peace and inclusiveness in our communities.

10th Anniversary of 9/11: Remembering all the victims

9/11/2011 10:32:00 PM ,

Sep 4, 2011

... If only it were that simple
9/04/2011 09:29:00 PM

Aug 30, 2011

The german non-profit organisation /e-politik.de/ has released an animated video about human rights. It is a simple and easy to follow primer on the meaning of human rights. It is a great educational resource for teaching and explaining human rights. The clip is licensed as Creative Commons and can be used, shared and embedded.

What are Human Rights?

8/30/2011 11:19:00 AM ,

Aug 23, 2011



Click here to listen

After nearly six months of tug of war between NATO-supported Libya rebels and the government forces, the situation in Libya changed dramatically this week as the rebels advanced into Libyan capital Tripoli with little resistance. Although the whereabouts of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi is still unknown，the International society is starting to prepare for the post-Gadhafi era, as leaders from France and Britain are calling for a meeting next week to discuss a road map for Libya's democracy. So is the Gadhafi regime already collapsed and who will take the leadership of the country? And how will the turmoil in Libya affect the whole African continent?

Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, bringing you insights into the headline news in China and around the world, I'm Zheng Chenguang in Beijing. In today's program, we are taking a look at the latest situation in Libya.

We are joined by Dr. He Wenping, Director of the African Studies Section at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh, Professor of African and Global History, Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster University in Canada.

Pondering the Future of Libya

8/23/2011 01:15:00 PM , , ,

Aug 10, 2011

From Syria comes an interesting story about the resilience of the demonstrators demanding change in that country. Much of the organising for demonstrations had been done by young people using the internet. As in other countries that have witnessed the uprisings of the Arab Spring, Facebook and Twitter have been the instruments of the Syrian demonstrations.

Opponents of the regime are using their mobile phones to organise and broadcast images of the regime brutality and ruthless. Images that would otherwise remained unseen outside Syria. The Syrian authorities have been doing it best to shut down access to the internet. Their latest step is to cut off power to “restive” parts of the country in the hope that the organisers would be unable to charge their cell phone batteries. But for every problem, there is a solution. The demonstrators and citizen journalists of Syria to whom we owe most of the news coming out of the country these days have found a way out.

One Syrian activist described the ingenious ways they have devised to recharge their cell phone batteries.

"We have a glass of water and two Duracell batteries. We put it for one hour in this glass, then we use the USB and we put it just in the water. And... that gives us two hours or three hours charge to talk."

I initially wondered if this was scientifically possible but my colleagues who have better knowledge of Chemistry that I do say it is possible.
Talk about recharging a revolution.


Syria: Recharging a Revolution

8/10/2011 11:46:00 PM ,

Jul 21, 2011

Somali famine 'one of the most urgent humanitarian crises in the world'

7/21/2011 09:26:00 PM , ,

Jul 20, 2011

It is now official. The United Nations has formally declared the crisis unfolding in the horn of Africa a Famine and a “humanitarian tragedy of unimaginable proportions.” Famine is defined as an acute starvation affecting greater than 30 percent of the population. In the case of Somalia, nearly half of the population is severely malnourished and under threat of starvation. The most vulnerable of these are women and children. Here are some troubling facts:
  • The draught in the horn of Africa is the worst in 60 years. Experts believe that changing global weather patterns have made draught more common in this region.
  • The UN estimates that 10 million people in the region are at the verge of starvation. That is about the population of Denmark and Sweden put together.
  • Insecurity and political instability have worsened the draught making an already chaotic region even more chaotic. Somalia has had no effective government since 1991 - over two decades. Rival warlords and al-Shabab, the Taliban style Islamist movement which controls most of the country, have denied humanitarian agencies access to the worst affected areas in the interior of the country.
  • Masses of refugees are fleeing to Northern Kenya and Eastern Ethiopia which are also draught affected regions. The UNHCR estimates that about 1,500 people are arriving at overcrowded refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia.
What can we do?
  • Donate: Humanitarian agencies such as the UNHCR, UNICEF and OXFAM all say that the donor response to this crisis has been particularly poor. The global economy is in recession and there is donor fatigue, particularly when it comes to humanitarian crises in Africa. But we cannot afford to turn our backs on the mass of women and children who face certain starvation in a world of plenty. Below are links to the websites of humanitarian organisations where you can make your donations. Please Act.
  • Push local and international leaders to find a long term political solution in Somalia. Unless a political solution is found that will bring peace and stability to the country, it will continue to have a destabilizing effect on the region. The menace of Somali pirates in the high seas and the threat it poses to international commerce is a reminder of the international repercussions of the chaos in Somalia. The international community must do more to support the current United Nations and African Union backed transitional government of Somalia. Write to your local political representatives in your country to push your governments to support international initiatives aimed at finding a lasting solution in Somalia. It is in our hands.

Spare a thought and a Dime for the Starving in Somalia

7/20/2011 10:12:00 PM , ,

Jul 10, 2011


Readers of this blog will know that I am a big fan of the musical Group “Playing for Change.” Playing for Change is an initiative that digitally brings together musicians from all over the word to create beautiful and empowering music aimed at bringing positive change to the world. Their videos have become a YouTube sensation.

Playing for Change just released its second album “PFC 2.” All the tracks are delightful. As I did with the first album, I am posting below my favorite tack in the new album. It is titled “Gimme Shelter,” an adaptation of the classic Rolling Stones track of the same title. I think of it as a theme song for peace and justice in our world. Enjoy!

Oh, a storm is threat'ning
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

Ooh, see the fire is sweepin'
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost its way

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

The floods is threat'ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I'm gonna fade away

War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away

I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away

PFC2: A Theme Song for Peace and Justice

7/10/2011 06:10:00 PM , ,
It was delightful to watch on TV, the celebrations that greeted the declaration of South Sudan as an independent nation – the world’s newest nation. Given the history of this troubled region and human suffering that has come with decades of civil conflict in which over a million people have died, the independence of South Sudan is a welcome development for the region. South Sudan becomes the 193rd country recognized by the UN and the 54th country in Africa.

The promise of a new society and the vision of peace and stability are palpable. The leaders of the country have worked to put in place the rudiments of a new nations – a new national flag; new national anthem, new currency and new political structures.

The people of South Sudan, many of whom have spent decades as refugees in neighboring countries, are returning home in droves in the hope that their new nation will provide them with the security and opportunities for decent livelihood that has long eluded them. I share in their hope and aspirations.

But it may not quite yet be complete “Uhuru” (Freedom). Amidst the hope, aspirations and celebrations are significant huddles that still confront the new nation. While some of these challenges are the unusual difficulties associated with forging news nations, some are unique obstacles. Here are what I consider the top four challenges confronting the new nation.

1. Managing citizen expectations and aspirations: We must not expect miracles. Given its history, progress in the new nation will likely be slow and painstaking. Years of war and neglect have ensured that the physical, social and institutional infrastructure in South Sudan are grossly inadequate. The new country joins the community of nations as one of the least developed in the world. Yet, for millions of South Sudanese, there are great hopes and expectations. These must be prudently managed. The leaders of South Sudan must strive to avoid the mistake of many post-colonial African leaders who promised their countrymen the sun, the moon and the stars after independence. The aspiration bar was set so unrealistically high that it was impossible to attain.

2. Managing the Oil Wealth: The new country is rich in oil which must also be prudently managed. First, the new government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit must work with Sudan (where most of the oil infrastructure are located) to come up with a revenue sharing agreement that is satisfactory to both sides. Next, oil revenue must be managed to serve the needs of the people rather than remain in the hands of a narrow oligarchy as is the case in some other oil-rich African countries.

3. Managing civil tensions and maintaining the Peace: The fragile peace that has allowed for the independence of South Sudan must be proactively maintained. Peace must be pursued both between South Sudan and her neighbors and within South Sudan. Recent reports of fighting in border areas between the north and south are troubling. There is real possibility of renewed conflict and for this reason the UN Security Council’s decision to keep in place the peacekeeping force for South Sudan is a wise one.

4. Negotiate Citizenship: A new law passed by the National Assembly in Khartoum has withdrawn Sudanese citizenship from all southerners. South Sudan is likely for reciprocate. This is bound to create more problems than it solves. Many South Sudanese have lived their whole lives in the north and vice versa. There must be a way to allow people on either side to feel a sense of national belonging, whatever side of the border that they choose to make their home. Citizenship must not become an instrument of ethnic exclusion and alienation.

An African proverb states: “A person is never blinded by a thrown stone that he can see coming.” Here is hoping that the people of Sothern Sudan and the international community see these “stones” and work toward avoiding them.

Independent South Sudan: Between Promise and Fear

7/10/2011 05:46:00 PM , ,
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