BLADE

Norway joins UN Human Rights Council

After intense diplomatic activity the last year, Norway has secured a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

On Tuesday Norway was elected as one of 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council together with the USA, Belgium and 15 other countries.

“The aim of our engagement is clear. It is to ensure that individuals are better protected against abuse and have better access to the rights set out in existing standards and conventions in the field of human rights. As a member Norway aims to make a difference,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

His diplomats have a big job ahead of them. Among the re-elected members of the council are China, Saudi-Arabia and Cuba - not countries known for their respect for human rights.

The Norwegian minister has already spoken to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton about cooperation the Human Rights Council.

- We agree that womens health and child hearl are also part of the human rights perspective, says Støre to Blade.

Jan Speed

Guyana offers a model for forest preservation for development

(Poul Engberg-Pedersen, Director, NORAD (left) greets President Jagdeo of Guyana (right))

Amila de Saram Larssen

President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana is currently in Norway promoting a national forest initiative to mitigate the ill effects of climate change.

President Jagdeo presented Guyana as a national-scale pilot and put forward a strong economic case for preserving the world’s forests. 

President Jagdeo sees the preservation of the world’s forests as an opportunity for low-carbon sustainable development for his country, and countries like his.  He intends to use money generated from a proposed carbon trading mechanism to finance hydro power initiatives, education, healthcare and income generating activities for the poor and in particular the indigenous, forest dwelling communities of Guyana.

Kofi Annan hopeful about Obama administration's engagement with the world

Jan Speed

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations,  was in Oslo for the 50th anniversary conference of NUPI (Norwegian Institute for International Affairs) and shared his thoughts on Barack Obama's leadership style and the ways in which the new administration is likely to engage with the world.

Norway provides humanitarian relief to Gaza

Norway is providing NOK 30 million in immediate humanitarian relief in connection with the assaults in Gaza.

“We are extremely concerned about the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Imams and rabbis in Paris to promote peace

The Third World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace kicked off yesterday in Paris.  The event is hosted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and aims to bolster peace in the Middle East.  

The congress is expected to draw 85 participants, including 45 Palestinian imams, Israeli rabbis and Christians.  Religious leaders and experts from nearly two dozen countries are also expected.

Outcomes are expected to include the adoption of a final declaration and the setting up of a monitoring group to support initiatives promoting peaceful coexistence and dialogue.

Today is World Aids Day

(Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit (second from the left) and Minister Erik Solheim (second from the right))

Amila de Saram Larssen

Click below to hear what Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Special Representative for UNAIDS; Erik Solheim, Minister of Development and the Environment; and Dr. Sigrun Møgedal, Norway's HIV/AIDS Ambassador had to say about the significance of World Aids Day when I spoke to them at an HIV/AIDS awareness raising event at Youngstorget in Oslo.

Brazil’s Oil Rush

James Onnig Tamdjian

SÃO PAULO – Brazil is poised to take its place among the world’s petro-powers. Estimates of its newfound oil reserves place it in eighth place among oil-producing nations, ahead of Nigeria as well as Brazil’s rival for influence in Latin America,Venezuela. Such newfound wealth is normally a source of celebration. But Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, perhaps fearing the infamous “resource curse” that has blighted the development of so many countries blessed with mineral wealth, is determined that the new oil wealth not be turned into “nonsense.” 

In 2007, huge oil deposits were discovered off Brazil’s coast. Modest estimates put these reserves at around 30 billion barrels. Crédit Suisse and other investment banks say that 50 billion barrels are available. 

Why are aid workers increasingly viewed as legitimate targets by armed opposition groups?

(Photo: Patrick Kinuthia/IRIN)

Amila de Saram Larssen

This question was one of many interesting questions posed at a conference titled, “Roles and Responsibilities: challenges and opportunities for civil, military and humanitarian actors in Afghanistan” hosted by the Norwegian Red Cross and PRIO today.  

A review of Social Science Research Capacity in Afghanistan

Amila de Saram Larssen

The Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) in Bergen recently published a report entitled, "Applied Social Science Research in Afghanistan. An Overview of the Institutional Landscape."

This report outlines Afghan institutional capacity in the field of applied social science research, as well as an assessment of the interest in, and potential for, further capacity building. 

The Reality of Aid 2008 report launched in Oslo

(From left to right: Stiaan van der Merwe, Beverly Keene and John Jones)

 

Amila de Saram Larssen

 

The Reality of Aid 2008 Report was presented in Oslo this morning as part of the annual RORG conference 2008.  The report is critical of current development policies and presents the issue of aid effectiveness from a civil society perspective.  

 

The introduction to the report states that, "the reality of aid in 2008 is that it continues to fail to promote human development for the eradication of poverty based on the core values of human rights, democracy, gender equality and environmental sustainability."