Ban Ki moon's stealth reelection campaign

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In another sign of Ban Ki moon's intent to run for a second term as U.N. Secretary General, the U.N. chief's allies have sought to douse public speculation in his native South Korea that he may consider a run for president there in 2012.Former South Korean Prime Minister, Han Seung-soo, a close ally of Ban, told Yonhap News agency that recent opinion polls including Ban as a potential presidential candidate may harm his reelection campaign at the United Nations. "It is our duty to free Secretay General Ban from domestic politics so he can serve the world," said Han. "Repeated mentions of his name in domestic politics would be disadvantageous for him as he performs his role as the U.N. secretary general."The Korea Herald contended that Ban has "expressed displeasure" over media surveys listing him as a presidential aspirant. "It was extremely unfortunate that he was named as a presidential contender in opinon polls despite having repeatedly said that he has no intention to run in the presidential elections," the Herald quoted a top U.N. official saying last week.Ban's five year term expires at the end of 2011. In his year end press conference last month, Ban declined to declare his intention, saying he would do so soon. But Ban has been sending strong hints that he has every intention of doing so. So, what's he waiting for? Follow me on Twitter @columlynch

Denmark joins Korean green growth institute

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Denmark became the first foreign government to join the Global Green Growth Institute, a Seoul-based global think tank on green growth strategies.

On the sidelines of the current U.N. climate talks in Cancun, Mexico, the Danish government agreed Wednesday to participate in the activities of the GGGI, promising to invest $5 million every year in the coming three years.

Established in May, GGGI is a non-profit organization aimed at developing the Korean government’s green growth initiative and helping developing countries adopt their own green growth strategy.

Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, domestic and international experts such as Nicholas Stern, professor at the London School of Economics, and Thomas Heller, director of the Climate Policy Initiative, a think tank financed by George Soros, are working as key members of the institute.

Denmark plans to open a local branch of GGGI in Copenhagen and to participate in supporting the green growth efforts of developing countries mainly in the fields of energy and transportation.

“Korea and Denmark are standing together at the starting line for the spread of green growth initiative. That would have a positive effect in the green efforts of developing countries,” said Korea’s Environment Minister Lee Maa-nee, who was attending the Cancun conference.

According to GGGI, the institute has already provided Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil with green growth strategies, planning to gradually expand the recipient countries from next year.