Good news for the UN and for the peacekeepers who are desperately attempting to continue operating in crisis conditions throughout the world. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee just passed a bill to approve funding for the $117 million the US owes the UN for peacekeeping operations and some additional monies in the future.
At the top of the list of peacekeeping hot spots for the US - Kosovo, Sudan, Haiti and Lebanon. All places that burgeon on instability.
"At a time when we are seeking a robust U.N. force in Darfur, and are relying on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, we should pay our dues in full," said Sen. Joseph Biden
This is a small victory for the UN in terms of the funding it needs, but a large win for the faith of our government in the work of the United Nations. Peacekeeping operations are one of those overlooked activities of the UN, that take a lot of funding to maintain and yet are one of the most integral. Peacekeepers oftentimes keep hostile situations from occurring and are the last bricks in the wall that can hold a country together.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N27255697.htm
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Connecting Teenagers Across Country Boundaries
I saw this article today on the Mercy Corps website discussing the plight of teenagers living in the Gaza strip in the often-mentioned, but never-tangible eternal war zone between Israel and Palestine. A group called "Gaza Waves" gathered in a school auditorium to video conference through the internet with students from a Portland, Oregon high school.
Over an hour and a half video conference, they talked about the differences in culture, the "American Dream" and the feelings the Gaza teenagers were having amidst such conflict. The teenagers found they had a lot in common and walked away from the conversation somewhat transformed, having made new friends on the other side of the world.
'Please don't give up on us," said a Gaza teenage girl to the group of Portland teenagers.
This videoconferencing is part of a new Mercy Corps program called "Why Not" that connects youth through the internet. I spoke with the Program Manager of "Why Not" this afternoon requesting info for the potential of a future partnership with YPIC. They are only working with Portland-based teens in the US for now but are looking to grow the program. They began over a year and a half ago with a grant videoconferencing with students in Central and South Iraq, and have expanded into the Gaza Strip. They plan to add other countries to that list soon. There will definitely be some opportunities to get involved in this program - so look for local schools and groups of students who may be interested in getting involved at some point.
Mercy Corps Soundbyte = Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
Note from Sultana: Any opportunity we can take to connect our cultures through our youth, can only benefit our mutual understanding of eachother's nations and lessen conflicts and distrust; perhaps, as a result of how we educate our young people now, our next generations will exercise peace and diplomacy as a course of action.
http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/westbankgaza/1747
Over an hour and a half video conference, they talked about the differences in culture, the "American Dream" and the feelings the Gaza teenagers were having amidst such conflict. The teenagers found they had a lot in common and walked away from the conversation somewhat transformed, having made new friends on the other side of the world.
'Please don't give up on us," said a Gaza teenage girl to the group of Portland teenagers.
This videoconferencing is part of a new Mercy Corps program called "Why Not" that connects youth through the internet. I spoke with the Program Manager of "Why Not" this afternoon requesting info for the potential of a future partnership with YPIC. They are only working with Portland-based teens in the US for now but are looking to grow the program. They began over a year and a half ago with a grant videoconferencing with students in Central and South Iraq, and have expanded into the Gaza Strip. They plan to add other countries to that list soon. There will definitely be some opportunities to get involved in this program - so look for local schools and groups of students who may be interested in getting involved at some point.
Mercy Corps Soundbyte = Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
Note from Sultana: Any opportunity we can take to connect our cultures through our youth, can only benefit our mutual understanding of eachother's nations and lessen conflicts and distrust; perhaps, as a result of how we educate our young people now, our next generations will exercise peace and diplomacy as a course of action.
http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/westbankgaza/1747
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