Hague Kinda Day

The New York Times recently published an article about Fatou Bensouda. Ms. Bensouda is responsible for prosecuting war criminals, those whose crimes are against humanity and matters of genocide. The article discusses some upcoming issues surrounding pending trials in the Hague. I highly recommend reading the article.

Genoide Ruling From the Hague

Big News coming from the Hague:

Serbia had failed to prevent the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war... [The] genocide did take place at Srebrenica, and gave a long list of atrocities throughout Bosnia which it said were carried out by Bosnian Serb fighters. But the court said it could not prove strict intent by the Serbian state, and therefore decided Serbia was not guilty of genocide...The practical effect of the ruling is to spare Serbia from being forced to pay heavy financial reparations that Bosnia was seeking over the massacre.

Read the article. Serbia is currently attempting to join the European Union. If the court found Serbia guilty, they most likely would not be able to meet the requirements to join. WHO CARES?? Whatever happened to rights of the Bosnian people who lost their lives unfairly?

Darfur Update

Keep the pressure on and maybe somebody will blink...

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - One of Darfur's main rebel factions complained on Wednesday it had not been invited to talks in Libya between Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Darfur rebels who have rejected a shaky peace deal.

The peace talks, expected to start on Wednesday, are aimed at trying to entice a rebel coalition, the National Redemption Front, to join a 2006 peace deal between Khartoum and one faction of the former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement.

Gaddafi is expected to try to persuade the NRF to join the peace deal for Darfur, where an estimated 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from homes since 2003.

Maybe Ike was right. Remember history class in high school about communism? The American reason for involvement was what the state department called the Domino Effect. If one country fell, the others would surely follow. History shows us that did not ever happen but maybe it was the right idea for the wrong situation.

The conflict in Darfur has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The bloodshed has spilled over to Chad and Central African Republic.

Hunger Strikes

As we get done celebrating Fat Tuesday people in Burundi are literally fighting for their food.

NEW YORK, USA, 14 February 2007 – Hunger and flooding in Burundi have killed some children, have made more homeless and are keeping others out of school. Reports from a recent tour around six provinces show a mounting death toll from the crisis.

People are dying from a variety of causes, which range from being beaten for stealing crops to food poisoning from eating unfamiliar roots and leaves – or they are simply starving to death. Others have drowned in the flooding.

First read the entire article, secondly think about what it means to you. Think about the cafe, and all those Ramon noodles sitting next to your desk. Kids should not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. It is the responsibility of us as citizens of this planet to look after each other any way possible.

What is UNICEF?

(Taken from the UNICEF Web Page)

Founded in 1947, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports the work of the United Nations Children's Fund by raising funds for its programs and increasing awareness of the challenges facing the world's children. The oldest of 37 national committees for UNICEF worldwide, we are part of a global effort to save, protect and improve children's lives.

How do I volunteer?

If you do not have the time to volunteer, there are still other ways to get involved. Donate some money. Even the smallest donations make a difference.

Education in the War World

I think it is safe to say that every body deserves a right to education. Currently in Iraq there are some problems:

NEW YORK, USA, 15 February 2007 – Schools are becoming critical hubs of stability within Iraq, thanks to a UNICEF-supported restoration programme designed to stem school closures and growing drop-out rates.

The initiative is critical because insecurity is destroying Iraqi children’s right to an education and forcing parents in some areas to choose between their children’s schooling and their safety. And even for those children who do make it to school, often there are not enough qualified teachers or adequate facilities.

“Our parents drop us off at school and pick us up,” says Hanan, 11, who attends a school in Baghdad and hopes one day to be a pharmacist. “They are afraid for our safety because of what is happening in the streets – the explosions.”

There is some hope.

The continuation of schooling is a primary UNICEF concern in all emergency situations. During armed conflict and in the aftermath, education can offer structure and stability for children and adolescents. And in Iraq, as in every country, a quality education for all children is the best guarantee of a better future.

First Post Fun!

There is more going on in the world than just what is happening in Iraq. Unfortunately while searching both the Times and Post web pages I could not find anything else. There are some hidden gems sitting around like this one:

SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 18 — The Australian foreign minister said Sunday that his government had reached a deal to allow David Hicks, who has been held at the American military base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for more than five years without trial, to return to Australia by the end of the year.

American military prosecutors have accused Mr. Hicks, 31, an Australian citizen, of attempted murder in violation of the laws of war and providing material support for terrorism. Mr. Hicks, who was captured in Afghanistan in late 2001, is expected to be formally charged soon.