Sustainable Development: The Global Challenge of Resource-Efficient Growth

 

... The 13th edition of TERI’s annual Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) revolves around the theme, The Global Challenge of Resource-Efficient Growth and Development, arguably one of the most crucial issues facing world economies at present.  The Summit—which will be held from January 31 to February 2, 2013 in Indian capital New Delhi--seeks to facilitate discussions to strengthen and further the resolutions adopted in The Future We Want...

 

www.trust.org/alertnet/news/sustainable-development-the-global-challenge-of-resource-efficient-growth

 

Drew Linzer: The stats man who predicted Obama's win – VIDEO

 

Pundits insisted the presidential race was a toss-up, but "polling aggregators" - who analyse polls to make predictions - were being criticised for favouring President Obama. Not any more.

 

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20246741

American Contributions to the UN: Small Outlay. Big Results

 

The House Foreign Affairs Committee are trying to cut American financial contributions to the United Nations. Republicans who are championing this measure say it is a way to help balance the books. In reality, American dues payments to the United Nations amount to a tiny fraction of the overall budget. But even for that small investment, the United States gets a lot back in return.

 

www.undispatch.com/american-contributions-to-the-un-small-outlay-big-results

U.K.-Funded U.N. Document Supports Online Surveillance — Just Like the Brits Want

 

SurveillanceGovernment officials don't generally need much encouragement to snoop on people, and they're not especially shy about the practice, either — just look at the Obama administration's continuing argument that legal challenges to domestic spying shouldn't be permitted because they'd expose "state secrets." But a little cover for preferred policies is always helpful, so that politicians can point to "expert" recommendations to justify what they were going to do anyway. That's where a recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime comes in, since it urges politicos hither and yon to impose closer scrutiny and tighter regulations on the Internet.

 

http://reason.com/blog/2012/10/24/uk-funded-un-document-supports-online-su

 

Vienna meeting to launch implementation of UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists - 22 and 23 November, 2012

 

 

In the first nine months of 2012 UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova condemned 95 killings of journalists, media workers and bloggers, a dramatic increase compared to previous years. The 2nd UN Inter-Agency Meeting on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity will be held in Vienna (Austria) on 22 and 23 November as part of international efforts to stem this violence, which undermines the basic human right of freedom of expression in many parts of the world and restricts citizens’ ability to get the full range of independent information to which they are entitled.

 

For accreditation, contact: press@unvienna.org

 

www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/news-and-in-focus-articles/all-news/news/vienna_meeting_to_launch_implementation_of_un_action_plan_on_the_safety_of_journalists/

An open letter to Obama from the world's poorest countries - VIDEO

 

As president you have helped those who cause climate change more than those affected most by it. Helping the world's poorest adapt is now a matter of urgency, and it can be your great legacy

 

www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/nov/08/obama-climate-change-poorest-countries

Appoint Bill Clinton Peace Envoy

by Bernard Avishai

Bernard Avishai is Adjunct Professor of Business at the Hebrew University, and Visiting Professor of Government at Dartmouth College.

 

President Obama's next move in the Middle East is so obvious I almost hesitate to suggest it: before the Israeli election season completely unfolds, ask, cajole, or beg Bill Clinton to take on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

 

Clinton understands the details and the players. He naturally symbolizes the achievements of the Abbas-Olmert negotiations, which picked up where the Clinton parameters left off. He is extremely popular in Israel and (through Ehud Barak) very close to the Israeli defense community. He is insanely popular among American Jews.

 

www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/appoint-bill-clinton-peace-envoy.html

UN encourages staff to show solidarity with victims of Hurricane Sandy - AUDIO

 

www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2012/11/un-encourages-staff-to-show-solidarity-with-victims-of-hurricane-sandy/

Mending Misperceptions about the United Nations

 

... When it comes to UN-related misperceptions, these three examples represent the tip of the iceberg. Other UN detractors have suggested the upcoming meeting of International Telecommunications Union members in December represents an insidious attempt by the UN to control the Internet—a prospect rendered impossible not only by the role and function of that institution, but also by the fact that delegations attending the meeting have little taste for such a scheme...

 

www.theinterdependent.com/human-rights/article/mending-misperceptions-about-the-united-nations

UN Envoy Susan Rice Is Top Candidate to Succeed Clinton

 

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is emerging as the favored candidate to succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, even with the political controversy over her remarks about the fatal Sept. 11 attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

 

Six current or former White House officials, who all spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Rice remains close to President Barack Obama and shares many of his views on foreign policy. They emphasized that the president hasn’t made a final decision, and Clinton may remain in her post for some months into Obama’s second term.

 

www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-08/un-envoy-susan-rice-is-top-candidate-to-succeed-clinton.html

United Nations Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth Congratulates President Obama

 

Continued bipartisan support for United States-United Nations relationship remains critical to U.S. interests.

 

United Nations Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth today issued the following statement on the results of the United States presidential election:

 

“Congratulations to President Obama on his victory last night. The United Nations Foundation looks forward to working with the Obama Administration to maintain strong U.S. engagement and leadership at the United Nations — a policy priority favored by the majority of Americans across the political spectrum.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/united-nations-foundation-president-timothy-e-wirth-congratulates-125624760.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CS_1ZtQzUQAFLbQtDMD

Secretary-General Ban congratulates US President Barack Obama on re-election

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly congratulates President Barack Obama on his re-election as President of the United States, a spokesperson for the world body's head said overnight.

 

“The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing to work with President Obama and his administration in the spirit of the enduring partnership between the United States and the United Nations,” Mr. Ban's spokesperson added in a statement.

 

www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43430&Cr=United Nations&Cr1=