The United Nations fails the people of Zimbabwe

The United Nation's Commission on Sustainable Development has just elected Zimbabwe as its new chair.  The Commission is responsible for overseeing key environmental and development agreements that were discussed at the UN's 1992 Rio Earth summit.  The decision to promote Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe to this position has been widely condemned by Anglosphere and European nations plus human rights organisations.

It is not only a propaganda victory for Zimbabwe but another sad proof that the United Nations is not fit for purpose.  The UN's continuing failure to address the situation in Darfur is another proof of the dishonesty of the post-Rwanda commitment to 'never again' allow genocide.  Those commentators who disdain American ascendancy in world affairs normally nominate the United Nations as their preferred world leader.  A regular theme of BritainAndAmerica will be the need for alternative bodies to the highly inadequate United Nations.  We recently spotlighted John McCain's welcome idea of a League of Democracies.

John Howard's Australia would be a very deserving member of such a League.  In a move certain to further undermine the Mugabe regime's standing amongst its people, Mr Howard has just ordered Australia's cricketers to cancel their planned tour of Zimbabwe.  These words appear on the Australian Prime Minister's website this morning:

"Under the disastrous rule of the Mugabe regime, ordinary Zimbabweans have borne the brunt of famine and near-total economic collapse brought on by the regime's destructive and callous policies. President Mugabe has trashed Zimbabwean democracy, enriched himself and his cronies, subverted the rule of law and presided over the systematic and brutal oppression of that country's civil society and political opposition."

When words like that appear on the UN website - and are backed by serious actions - we may begin to believe that the UN is worthy of its founding principles.

Related link: Melanie Phillips in today's Daily Mail on John Howard's leadership

Comments

[malcolm]

A very black day for the UN. But the UN is made up of individual countries and it is the failure of individual countries to do anything meaningful in Zimbabwe (or Darfur) that is particularly shameful. Both the governments of the UK and South Africa bear heavy responsibility there.
As a general rule I'm not in favour of government imposed sporting boycotts but in this case John Howard was probably right.It is a shame 'though that it had to come from the Australian Government, it would have been better if each and every Australian player had declared his refusal to tour.

[John Hayward, The Difference]

The UN's announcement has prompted this week's featured debate and poll at The Difference: UN - Reform Or Dissolve?. Also, the next issue of the magazine, out next week, includes a feature on Zimbabwe that will launch an online campaign — Look for the petition at The Difference Magazine blog next week!

[Rachel Joyce]

It is more than reform we need - I think John McCain has it - we need a change in international institutions where dictatorships are left out in the cold. They have no right to lead any programmes or have a vote on international law or resolutions when they do not represent their people through democracy.

[simon]

The mel Phillips article is essential reading.

[Steevo]

Well this isn't anything unusual for the UN as if an aberration from massive oil-for-food corruption days. Just the new and improved under Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help steer the organization in the right direction from the scandal-ridden Kofi Annan era. The previous Human Rights Commission chaired by Libya is now 'reformed' into the current Human Rights Council, doing the same ole turning a blind eye to terrorism but condemning Israel. Iran is elected to the vice chair of the Disarmament Commission, LOL. North Korea on the executive board of UNICEF and the U.N. Development Program. There are 13 of the 53 current member states which regularly practice policies from extreme corruption to systematic repression to genocide. They pay 5% of the total budget compared to 22% for the US.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Not only is it a black day, as Malcolm put it, for the UN, but for Europe and America.

We should send in the SAS. Yes, will be accused on behaving in a colonial manner but the alternative is to sit back and let Zimbabwe’s citizens (most of whom are black) continue to starve, be beaten, raped and murdered. In the long term, the country will thank us and stability will be restored to the region.

If “regime change” was right for Iraq, why not Zimbabwe? A cynic would cite oil as the main difference…

[Steevo]

"A cynic would cite oil as the main difference…"

And one with knowledge not prejudice would cite hope for some crucial Middle East democracy in the midst of tyranny and repression, global instability and the spread of terrorism.

"Not only is it a black day, as Malcolm put it, for the UN, but for Europe and America."

It isn't a "black day" for anyone but those responsible. Ultimately America has nothing to do with this but, a cynic would say... watch the blame-America crowd.

[Dennis]

Zimbabwe was hardly on the map prior to 2000, the only reason it came to prominence was due to the WHITE farmers being summarily expelled from their farms.
John Howard railing against an African country that has asserted it's right to control it's affairs is no suprise.

It comes as no suprise that he would attempt to sideline Zimbabwe for attempting to seize their agricultural lands from Anglo-Saxon settlers who controlled the vast majority of the fertile farm land for over a century.

This is the same John Howard that was a supporter of apartheid South Africa and sees Australia as a distinctly Anglo-Saxon Judeo-christian society that should restrict the levels of Asian immigration.
This is also the same PM Howard who appointed as Governor-General a man who presided over and ignored rampant child abuse and paedophilia.

As for Melanie Phillips, I cannot understand her premise, She speaks of PM Howard as a defender of Anglo-Saxon cultural values & identity.. dont make me laugh!!!
Have you had a chance to spend time examining Anglo-Saxon youth culture across the globe.
It is certainly not rooted in Anglo-Saxon identity & they are the future!!
What cultural values?
Apartheid, Colonisation, Genocide, Intolorence, Racism, Paedophillia, Segregation, Exploitation !!!!

Melanie Phillips and PM Howard are living in the past, as do most delusional Anglo-Saxons when they think they can extoll their culture & values without regard to the lessons from history or the emerging trends in world demographics.
Maybe they should cede the moral high ground and admit they are against Mugabe because his actions adversly affected 'WHITE' people.
I cannot recall any John Howard statements criticising Ian Smith's apartheid Zimbabwe.

[Dennis]

As for the UN, it is clearly not 'fit for any purpose ' as has been widely acknowledged. However I think as it is a global body every country should have an equal opportunity to take part in it's fundamentally flawed, incompetent institutions.

[Ash Faulkner]

If only all world leaders were like John Howard. What a great man.

[Dennis]

Ash Faulkner...If only all world leaders were like John Howard. What a great man.

If they were then Anglo-Saxons would not enjoy all the benefits & standards of expatriate life that they currently do on every continent of the globe!!!
In the globalised world there is no space for 'intellectual dinosaurs' exemplified by PM Howard.

[Teddy Bear]

Ash - I agree, we could use some common sense approaches to so much of the PC bullshit emanating from our own politicians.

Malcolm, Re: As a general rule I'm not in favour of government imposed sporting boycotts but in this case John Howard was probably right.It is a shame 'though that it had to come from the Australian Government, it would have been better if each and every Australian player had declared his refusal to tour.

Do you really think national policy should be dictated by sportspersons? You've got to be kidding.

Dennis, a few things that 'give you away'...
As for Melanie Phillips, I cannot understand her premise, She speaks of PM Howard as a defender of Anglo-Saxon cultural values & identity.. dont make me laugh!!!
You cannot understand her premise because you really don't understand our society, for all its faults.

This is the same John Howard that was a supporter of apartheid South Africa and sees Australia as a distinctly Anglo-Saxon Judeo-christian society that should restrict the levels of Asian immigration.

Yeah, I think that touched a nerve with you didn't it? You are the proof of why immgration from societies (not necessarily Asian) that really don't come to embrace and contribute to ours, but instead seek to undermine, whilst supplanting their own, should be more than restricted, but forbidden.

[Dennis]

Teddy Bear.. there you go again with the soft, furry, childish thought process..
If you bothered to read the article as an entire piece rather than pick on the sections you feel can pigeon-hole me into a convenient racial package that you can attack.
My emphasis was on his delusional attempt to restrict Asian immigration is based on his country's proximity to an immense Asian populace, rather than any form of solidarity I may have with immigrant populations worldwide.
I am British and proud & the only proof I am is of your bigoted opinions.
The hilarious thing is if you really understood British society over the last 50 years, you would appreciate that immigrants have been the driving force of the culture and economy, exemplified by the wealthiest man in the United Kingdom at present being Lakshmi Mittal who incidentally also happens to be Asian.
Culturally, music has evolved from the music hall model to embrace immigrant genres that have come to dominate popular music output. Youth culture (they are the future), popular fashion & food(curry is the national dish) have all been transformed by immigrants.

The days of dancing round the maypole, sharing ditties while wearing tweed and eating jellied eels at the music hall are consigned to history.
The vast majority of the UK has moved on and looks forward to a UNITED future irrespective of race, the question is WHEN WILL YOU?
If you can't stomach the thought of having to assimilate, might I suggest migration to Australia?

[davod]

It is all very well to bitch and moan about the white Australian complaining about the black african. However, you need to get past your prejudice.

Anyone with an ounce of compassion should be shamed by what Mugabe and his cronies have done to Zimbabwe.

They have destroyed the country and starved their people.

He is of course allowed to commit any attrocities on his people because he is a golden child - Black and a marxist.

[davod]

Sorry:

I was taking comments like Dennis's seriously. Now that I have read his 9:41 pm comment, I see he is only joking with the rest of us.

[davod]

Sorry:

I was taking comments like Dennis's seriously. Now that I have read his 9:41 pm comment, I see he is only joking with the rest of us.

[Teddy Bear]

"...soft and furry, childish thought processes..."
Dennis I'm going to show you that you are describing yourself here, although you think your clever. Most anybody here will have clearly understood my paragraph You are the proof of why immgration from societies (not necessarily Asian) that really don't come to embrace and contribute to ours, but instead seek to undermine, whilst supplanting their own, should be more than restricted, but forbidden.
But not you! Mention it again and I'll break it down into easy pieces for you to properly understand.

For your information I've travelled extensively in 53 countries of this world, over many years, and have a pretty good idea what many different societies are about.

I've no doubt you have full British citizenship, but as for proud...Have you had a chance to spend time examining Anglo-Saxon youth culture across the globe.
It is certainly not rooted in Anglo-Saxon identity & they are the future!!
What cultural values?
Apartheid, Colonisation, Genocide, Intolorence, Racism, Paedophillia, Segregation, Exploitation !!!! :o) Yeah real proud.

That's what you see my deceitful furry thinking friend. You see I read your whole post and see where you're coming from. Instead of trying to understand where we are coming from, you try to inflict your notions on us. You don't recognize your limitations - and learn, and it's really chronic with you.

Like I said, you're getting the grizzly side of me, and until you open your mind to fresh perspectives, it will continue thus.

[Dennis]

I've no doubt you have full British citizenship,...... but as for proud.....

Teddy Bear, I am proud of British culture based on 'my experience' of it & my listing of the 'elephants in the room' does not diminish my admiration of /& loyalty to the British way of life.
National pride does not have to result in 'denial' or 'revisionism'.

[Dennis]

Davod - He is of course allowed to commit any attrocities on his people because he is a golden child - Black and a marxist.

Davod,
What may I ask is wrong with killing people because you believe it is for a good cause? & Why does the pigment/complexion of his skin matter?

[malcolm]

Where did I say Teddy Bear that I wanted 'sporting persons to dictate national policy' . I merely wished for all Australian cricketers to declare their unavailibility to tour.
Are you wilfully trying to misunderstand what I wrote or are you being as thoroughly dishonest as during our last correspondence?
Dennis, are you serious or are the above posts just your idea of a joke? If so ,it really isn't very amusing.

[Dennis]

Malcolm, which post in particular?

[Steevo]

"Malcolm, which post in particular?"

LOL

Well Malcolm he was damn serious defining the most inhumane murderers walking this planet as "freedom fighters."

[Dennis]

Steevo.. if you care to recall, my point when I made that statement was to emphasise that the opinions formed and the nomenclature employed in a warzone are based on the subjective perspective of the person's involved.
This is not the same as ME regarding the 'Iraqi insurgents' as 'freedom fighters'

Regarding Zimbabwe, there are many African leaders who have commited atrocities against their citizens.
Why the Mugabe witchhunt?
He is hardly Africa's worst dictator.
Pres.Hosni Mubarrack(Egypt)
Pres.Theodore Obiang(Equatorial Guinea)
Pres.Yoweri Museveni(Uganda)
Pres.Blaise Compaore(Burkina Faso)
Pres.Omar Bongo (Gabon)
Anyone of the presidents listed above qualifies as a dictator & can be linked to gross human rights violations and extra-judicial killings.

What I ask makes Mugabe's human rights violation's so worthy of the dubious moral indignation and media criticism currently exhibited?

[Steevo]

"opinions formed and the nomenclature employed in a warzone are based on the subjective perspective of the person's involved"... LOL. There was NO implication you meant their judgement and not yours. You're a blatant liar as I quoted you on a number of statements, and now a sleazy weasel trying to get out of the obvious. I called you on it, then. You gave NO explanation, then. I stated neither the al-Queda terrorists nor the Iraqis enduring their murderous hell called them "freedom fighters." You believe they are the freedom fighters, you living in freedom on the other side of the world. And you believe the Anericans are the ones to be hated. I'll state the links and quote you if you want to challenge this. Kabeesh?

"Witch hunt?" The UN Commission on Sustainable Development has just *promoted* this murderous tyrant. Its widely condemned "by Anglosphere and European nations plus human rights organisations."

And you have a problem.

"What may I ask is wrong with killing people because you believe it is for a good cause? & Why does the pigment/complexion of his skin matter?"

You're being called on some very heavy duty stuff in this forum and I think you're beginning to look like a deluded manipulative inhumane sociopath unable to recognize the moral implications of how blatant your feelings are.

We are to believe further statements about your statements? Like I said before you're a lie unto yourself and in your own world. How can anyone believe you?

[Dennis]

Steevo..I'll state the links and quote you if you want to challenge this. Kabeesh?

I would appreciate the link..and what the hell does kabeesh stand for?

blatant liar,sleazy weasel, deluded, manipulative, inhumane, sociopath,

I care not an iota what you or the participants in this forum think of me or my opinions!!! If you/they had sufficient intellect, then they may be able to challenge my assertions to at least an impasse, rather than capitulating and resorting to infantile insults.
If you challenge me without insults, you may be pleasantly suprised to receive a reply to your challenges...

Regarding the questions you quoted, they were directed at Davod in a sarcastic reply to his contention that Mugabe is not dealt with as he is Black & Marxist..

How about dispensing with the personal attacks and respond constructively to the anomaly questioned in my previous post.
Regarding Zimbabwe's chairing the UNCSD, I believe the African contingent that currently control the revolving chair of the UNCSD were making a statement regarding the extraordinary treatment of Zimbabwe.