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Editor’s Note: The beauty of the sun rays, the morning dew, birds
singing and the RAIN FALLEN upon the grass and flowers are all signs of
Springtime! Time for transformation within ourselves and around the world.
It’s time we stand and rally throughout the world for human rights. We
must muster the courage not to do the same old things the same old way,
which will only give us the same old results. The courage we need to love
can manufacture peace that is needed world wide. It is necessary to pursue
a peaceful/spirit which in the end is more powerful.
We must whether it is from the sidelines or from the core of the
action we must take action to i mprove our world, community so the end
results is justice for all. The essence of life is within each and EVERY
ONE of us. Do not be afraid to tap into it, share it, AND BECOME committed
to a cause. make a difference! God wants us to face each challenge in
life – the kingdom is ours to claim!
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF ARGENTINA SPEAKS TO
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF UNESCO OF HUMAN RIGHTS
What Makes the human condition truly universal, what places us all on
an equal footing, is our struggle and limitless commitment in favor of
human rights, said the herald of state, recalling the celebration this
year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is a great source of pride for e to represent Argentina and, like an
ordinary citizen to hold up m country as an example of respect for human
rights, “said the President who highlighted the contribution of the mothers
and grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, symbols of the struggle against
Argentina’s military dictatorship
of 176 to 1983.
Getting o this situation has not been easy” admitted President Fernandez
de Kirchner,”We have had to make many sacrifices and we received the help
of women who have not hesitated to take to the streets to denounce impunity;
women in white scarves who demonstrated for the sake of their children
and for everybody else.”
In short welcome address, the Chairman of the Executive Board, Olabiyi
Babalola Joseph Yai(Baenin) recalled that human rights violations continue
to overshadow the peace and development of which all our societies dream.
He went on to praise President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as a committed
human rights campaigner.
WORLD CHURCH BODY CONDEMNS VIOLENCE FROM BOTH GAZA
The World Council of Churches’ general secretary, the Rev. Samuel Kobia,
has expressed “absolute condemnation” of the escalation of attacks on
civilians in Gaza ands Israel. “Incessant violations of life and of human
rights must stop. We call on the government of Israel, the occupying power,
to fulfill its legal obligations to the people of Gaza under the Geneva
Conventions, Kobia said in a 3Mar statement. “We absolutely condemn these
deadly attacks on civilians by the Israeli military on Gaza and by militants
firing rockets from Gaza.
Us Church Leaders Ask Condoleezza Rice to address the crisis in Gaza:
A group of US Church leaders asked that US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice directly address the crisis over the Gaza Strip in her planned visit
to the Middle East in March The leaders of US Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant,
Roman and Unitarian Universalist churches and Roman Catholic religious
humanitarian groups on February 29 groups , sent a letter to rice. They
urged her to take urgent action to address the unresolved Gaza crisis.
This crisis, the leaders, said is hindering progress on the peace process
and also creates conditions that pose a particular threat to the small
Christian community in Gaza.
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN INDIA CONDEM INTERNATIONAL SILENCE ON TIBET
Deadly attacks on civilians by the Israeli military on Gaza and by militants
firing rockets from Gaza.
Right activists in India condemn “international silence on Tibet:
Thrissur, India. Human rights activist in India have deplored what they
say is silence from the international community concerning the crackdown
of the Chinese government on protesting Tibetans, many of whom look for
leadership to the exiled spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai
Lama. The Dalai Lama has come under fire from authorities in China who
accuse him of fomenting unrest in the territory for which he is seeking
greater autonomy. “The saddest part of the latest tragedy is the silence
of the UN and big powers, Gelek Namgyal, an official of the policy Research
Centre of the Tibetan Parliament
in Exile, based in India, told Ecumenical News International on 20 March.
Namgyal said more than 100 Tibetans have been killed in the ongoing Chinese
crackdown. The Tibetans have been agitating for autonomy, and some for
independence for Tibet, which has been under Chinese rule for half a century
UN’S Top Refugee Official Urges More Support for Uprooted Iraqis
In Syria as part of a weeklong visit to the Middle East, The United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees has appealed to the international community
to provide greater support for Iraqis who have fled across borders. Antonio
Gutierrez urged help for Iraqis in Syria and Jordan, for more settlement
places in third countries and for the Government of Iraq to be more active
in supporting those who have been forced to flee.
The High Commissioner met senior leaders in both Jordan and Syria, including
Jordanian King Abdullah II and Syria’s President Bashar al-assad. He told
reporters that he had received assurances from both governments that Iraqi
refugees would not be pushed back against their will and that the “asylum
space” will be preserved. “This is a very important guarantee,” he added,
particularly in view of the heavy burden both countries are bearing.
The High Commissioner also asked governments to increase the number of
resettlement places for vulnerable
refugees. ”Some Iraqi families will not be able to go back to their country
because they have been tortured or family members were all killed or because
of some other situations,” he said. “The number of resettlement opportunities
for the most vulnerable is very important.”
“They need to feel their government is supporting them and assisting them
in the difficult conditions they are facing today,” he said. “My appeal
to the Iraq government is for stronger engagement with Iraqis in Syria
and Jordan and with the governments of neighboring countries.”
Mr. Gutierrez said UNHCR had clear global criteria on the conditions needed
for the voluntary return of refugees which” are not met by the situation
in Iraq now.”
The agency is not promoting returns to Iraq in the present circumstances
“because we do not believe the conditions are there for it to be possible
on a meaningful scale he said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon kicked off
a multi-year global campaign bringing together the United Nations, governments
and civil society to try to end violence against women calling it an issue
that cannot wait.”
At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced
into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Through the practice of
prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to
exist.
Violence against women impedes economic and social growth, and thus the
new campaign will run until 2015, the same target year as the internationally
agreed aims known as the Millennium Development Goals. Noting that weapons
of armed conflict today include rape, sexual violence and abduction of
children to be conscripted as soldiers or sex slaves, The Secretary General
recounted
his visits to war-torn areas and his conversations with survivors of violence.
It is a campaign for the women and girls who have the right to live free
of violence, today and in the future, he said, “It is a campaign to stop
the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on all humankind.”
Mr. Ban called on the cooperation of the world’s youth, women’s groups,
and men around the world, the private sector and Member states to help
the new initiative to succeed.
FUTURE SCHOLARS, MISSION TRIP TO GHANA 2008
In February a Ph.D Student named Robbin Johnson traveled to Ghana to
complete a mission in collaboration with a non-profit organization called
Future Scholars, Inc.
The mission is to:
• Build a twelve –room school equipped with a library and a computer center.
• To provide school supplies, uniforms and medical supplies to meet the
educational needs
• To develop a well that will produce clean water for the village.
• To assist teachers with the development of the curriculum and lessons
plans.
• To provide scholarships to youth in the USA to be able to travel to
Ghana and to join the mission.
So often you find that a visit to another country you have the need to
provide as much as possible so they can be nourished emotionally, physically
and spiritually. When looking through our lens we assume that the peplepeolein
Ghana but yet they are so rich in unity, perseverance productivity and
work ethics to name a
few... So yes Future Scholars provided resources but they provided us
with t wisdom, courage and values that we have lost!
people in Ghana lack so much but yet they are so rich in unity perseverance,
productivity, and work ethics to name a few. So yes we were able to provide
resources; but they provided us with wisdom, courage and values that we
have lost!
Address By: President of the 62 Session The UN Role in achieving the Millennium
Development Goals:
The United Nations– more than anybody– is uniquely placed to take a leading
role in achieving the MDG’s. But in order to do so, and like any other
organization, it must renew and retool itself to respond to emerging challenges.
The panel report clearly states that a one size fits approach is not the
way to go.
We need to take a pragmatic and considered approach. One that focuses
on substance and the broader strategic issues to ensure that
1. The UN plays its full role in delivering the MDG
2. That development remains at the heart of the UN system activities;
3. And, that the system is performing well enough, not only to maintain
current levels of voluntary funding, but also to attract additional resources
in the fight against poverty. Now is the time for the General Assembly
to deliver as but one!
Ignatius University’s Graduate Program in Politics Psychology, Peace Studies/
Conflict Management Organizational Management/ Diplomacy
As we enter into the twenty-first century, it becomes increasingly apparent
that more attention should be given to political systems as influencing
the well being of individuals, societies and the whole of human kind.
The event of one political system are not self-contained but rather are
global in ramifications touching other systems, societies and cultures
and in turn affecting the emotional well being of groups, the family and
the individual.
Thus we realize that the classical practitioners of mental health such
as psychologist, psychiatrist and social workers are not able to handle
alone all the complexities, including globalization, which come to bear
upon the contemporary human condition. The invitation to take part in
the healing endeavor needs to be extended to other professionals, namely
social and political scientist and those in related disciplines.
The School of Diplomacy of Ignatius University, offers the Master of Science
(M.S.) and either the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or the Doctor of Education
(Ed. D.) in Peace Studies/Conflict Management or Organizational Management/Diplomacy.
Requirements for the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. are the same.
ANNOUNCEMENT: 61ST ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 3-5 2008 UNESCO
HEADQUARTERS, PARIS, FRANCE
The 61st Annual DPI/NGO Conference titled, Reaffirming Human Rights:
The Universal Declaration at 60.” is being planned to commemorate the
60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and is the first time in the Conference history that it will be
held outside of New York.
The conference will provide a forum for diverse actors including:
• More than 2000 International Non-governmental Organization representatives.
• Human rights activists from all over the world
• Government, academia and UN representatives
• Private sector speakers from business and philanthropy
• Education and information technology experts
• Citizen activists and citizen journalists
The three-day gathering of NGOs is organized by the Department of Public
Information (DPI) in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee
as well as NGOs which have consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council.
As an annual meeting taking place on the eve of the opening of the General
Assembly, the Conference has become an established forum for networking
and exchange of views, opinions and best practices on relevant issues.
Participants will leave the conference with knowledge of measures and
goals which can be achieved by working together to counter human rights
abuses.
Interfaith Alliance Seeks Summer Counselors:
The Interfaith Alliance is looking for four counselors(2 women, 2 men)
for its LEADD (Leadership Education Advancing Democracy and Diversity)
program to be held at the National 4-H Youth Center in Chevy Chase, MD.
July27- August 3. LEADD is a program for rising high school sophomores
and juniors. Its educational focus is on the history of and current issues
about religious liberty and the First Amendment as well as skills training
in advocacy, organizing, messaging, fundraising, and conflict resolution.
Applicants must be college or graduate students, minimum age 20. They
need substantial experience with teens such as summer camp counseling,
work with faith or community youth groups or religious education activity.
A stipend of $500 is provided.
For an application, please visit their website. For more information,
send an e-mail or call Denise Davidoff, LEADD Director at 203-838-381
UNITED NATIONS AFFAIRS – SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
Dean, Ambassador Anthony J. DeLuca, Ph.D
Phone: (718) 698-0700
E-mail: Ignatius U@ aol.com
Website: http://ignatiusu.com/diplomacy.html
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