Month: April 2017

A panel of UN experts advised the UN Human Rights Council on serious human rights violations against gay men occurring in Chechnya, a republic which is part of the Russian Federation. In the last few weeks, reports have surfaced of local authorities torturing and killing men perceived to be homosexual. The UN strongly condemned the actions of the Chechen security forces and statements made by officials, urging that Chechens are “living in a climate of fear fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities.”

The Russian Federation has a history of violating the rights of gay and transgender people and it is likely that the UN’s warnings will be disregarded. The international community must continue to bring attention to the human rights situation in Chechnya and demand Chechen authorities to end the persecution of gay men.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/germany-donald-trump-border-tax-lawsuit-angela-merkel-wto-economy-minister-brigitte-zypries-world-a7634681.html

What’s so fascinating to me about international relations is that one country can actually sue another country. Germany’s economy minister said they may file a lawsuit against the US if Trump implements a proposed border tax. In the past Trump has advocated a 35% tax on cars that BMW plans to build in Mexico and export to the US. He’s likely bluffing, in my opinion.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-g20-germany-imf-idUSKBN17C1AN

The International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization and World Bank released a joint report called ‘Making Trade an Engine of Growth for All,’ which urges governments to address the negative impact global trade has had, especially in advanced economies. Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, warns that trade will no longer be an engine for growth if there is no reform.

It seems as though states and international institutions are eager to change the conversation about trade by defending it and advocating improvement.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) urged for investments in sustainable agriculture and climate change relief to address the humanitarian and ecological crisis in Lake Chad Basin. Years of fighting and violence are largely responsible for the crisis, but climate change and environmental neglect have further escalated the situation. Approximately seven million people in the region suffer from severe hunger and 50,000 are on the brink of famine in northeastern Nigeria alone. Ninety percent of the Lake Chad Basin population relies on agriculture for food security.

The FAO and its partners urged the international community to provide immediate food assistance and food production support in an effort to alleviate severe hunger among Lake Chad Basin residents. The FAO’s three-year response strategy aims to improve food security and help farmers produce sustainable agriculture. The area also suffers from severe droughts and the FAO is working to help farmers save water through various irrigation strategies. The FAO Director General, Jose Graziano da Silva, warned that the need for agriculture in the region cannot be ignored if the crisis is going to be resolved.

The New York Times is running a series on climate change and cities. It’s latest article focuses on Guangzhou, China, which is highly susceptible to rising sea levels and flooding due to climate change. Guangzhou’s environmental problems are compounded with its population of 42 million and its huge role in development and industrialization. Climate change and development go hand-in-hand. China’s economic success has lead to urbanization and population growth in areas like Guangzhou, but it has also caused China to be the number 1 contributor of greenhouse gasses, which threatens the health and livelihood of these booming cities.

Geoengineering has become a bigger part of the climate change conversation. Geoengineering focuses on adjusting the environment to mitigate climate change’s effects, like whitening clouds to reflect the sun and reduce warming. This poses huge governance questions since the engineering will effect all aspects of the environment beyond borders.

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect released a statement on Friday following the U.S. airstrikes on a Syrian airbase. The Centre acknowledged that the airstrikes were in direct response to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and the failure of the UN Security Council to act nor adhere to its responsibilities, but noted that “it does not condone unilateral military action outside of military law.”

Many argue that the airstrikes were unconstitutional and in violation of international law. In its statement, the Centre wrote that the international community must hold those accountable in Syria under international law for atrocities, including the use of chemical weapons. The Centre also urged UN member states to accept Syrian refugees into their countries.

Seven Christians were killed in el-Arish between 30 January and 23 February 2017, all in attacks claimed by Sinai Province, an ISIS affiliate operating in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Five individuals were shot, one was beheaded, and another set on fire. According to church officials, 100 families out of roughly 160 in north Sinai, along with more than 200 students studying in el-Arish, are seeking refuge in the neighboring city of Ismailia.

The north-eastern region of the Sinai Peninsula has been a militant hotspot for several years, peppered with violent attacks and threats from Sinai Province, which affiliated with ISIS .

the majority of attacks in the Sinai Peninsula by ISIS’ affiliate were against security forces, with 39 deaths in at least 8 individual incidents. In the same period and geographical area, 21 civilians were killed and not one victim was reported as Coptic Christian. Having said that, on 19 November 2016.

Following this, there has been regular brutality towards Christians and other minorities by the group’s supporters and members. This violence is regularly justified in ISIS propaganda with a rhetoric that frames the Western intervention in Syria as a Christian ‘crusade’ and a ‘war on Islam’.

source :http://www.religionandgeopolitics.org

 

The UN Security Council has condemned the bombings of two Coptic Christian Churches In Egypt Sunday ,calling “heinous ” and “cowardly ”

The two blasts at Tanta’s Mar Girgis Church and Alexandria’s St Mark’s Cathedral ,killed over 40 people and injured more than 100 in the deadliest attacks targeting Copts in years.

A statement by the the council urged all members to cooperate with the Egyptian government in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the attacks ,which were claimed by Islamic State Militant .

“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security ,”

Source :English.ahram.org.eg

https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/5-key-takeaways-icc-world-trade-agenda-day/

The ICC World Trade Agenda Day took place a few weeks ago in London. It was managed in partnership with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and brought together international and British business leaders to make the case for global trade and stem the tide of protectionist and anti-globalist sentiments. The 5 takeaways from the meeting were:

1. Time to counter the rhetoric on trade
2. Access to trade finance is vital
3. The WTO has never been more important
4. The Internet is democratising economic opportunity
5. The G20 must stand firm on protectionism

The ICC has a #TradeMatters campaign, designed to create meaningful conversation about trade without inflammatory rhetoric.