Archive for January 5th, 2017

05/01/2017

Rohingya in Burma/Myanmar: Nobel Laureates Urge Action over ‘Ethnic Cleansing’

Human Wrongs Watch

Submitted By Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate*

2 January 2017 – TRANSCEND Media Service

Dear President and Members of the UNSC,

As you are aware, a human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is unfolding in Myanmar.

Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticised for failing to protect the Rohingya population.

30 December 2016

Over the past two months, a military offensive by the Myanmar Army in Rakhine State has led to the killing of hundreds of Rohingya people. Over 30,000 people have been displaced.

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05/01/2017

2017 – A Thunderous Clash of Politics, Economies and Policies

Human Wrongs Watch

By Martin Khor*

PENANG, Malaysia, Jan 2 2017 (IPS) – Yet another new year has dawned.   But 2017 will be a year like no other.

The Paris agreement, which was adopted in December 2015 and which came into force in record time in October 2016 as a demonstration of international concern over climate change, may face a major test and even an existential challenge in 2017, if Trump fulfils his election promise to pull the US out. Credit: Diego Arguedas Ortiz/IPS.

The Paris agreement, which was adopted in December 2015 and which came into force in record time in October 2016 as a demonstration of international concern over climate change, may face a major test and even an existential challenge in 2017, if Trump fulfils his election promise to pull the US out. Credit: Diego Arguedas Ortiz/IPS.

There will be a thunderous clash of policies, economies and politics worldwide.   We will therefore be on a roller-coaster ride, and we should prepare for it and not only be spectators on the side-lines in danger of being swept away by the waves.

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05/01/2017

Obama’s Troubled Exit: Temper Tantrums and Diplomatic Storms

Human Wrongs Watch

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**President  Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama | Lauren Gerson 

I can hear the wolves at the gate already. Quick disclaimer: The following analysis will not tackle the Palestinian peace process or Israel’s aggressive occupation of Palestinian land.

However important those subject matters maybe, we ought to realize that the latest UN resolution – which made a loud political and diplomatic bang – was really meant as a poisoned apple.

I would like to think that by now we are well-equipped to smell a political set-up. If anything, Syria has taught the world how insanely conniving and manipulative the United States can be when it comes to pushing its narrative forward – to hell with the consequences.

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05/01/2017

New Year Old Wishes Left and Right

Human Wrongs Watch

By Johan Galtung*

2 January 2017 – TRANSCEND Media Service – This New Year announces itself with bangs all over, not whimpers.

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Johan Galtung

Pope Francis made a tour d’horizon on all continents, strongly denouncing the violence in favor of his alternative: negotiation.

Much violence is copycat or copyrat; violence being a la mode. Copying–aka learning–is not wrong. But it depends on what is copied.

Wish no. 1: copying peace rather than violence, for instance from ASEAN and the Nordic Community, making peace self-reinforcing.

Wish no. 2: reporting violence less prominently, more toward the end of newspapers-TV-radio news, and reporting peace upfront.

Wish no. 3 understanding war better, not only how many killed but how many bereaved; understanding peace better as model for others.

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