tagged w/ World Politics
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2007 is the International year of solidarity with Saharawi People. The self determination process of the former Spanish Sahara is supported by UN resolutions since 1987. These state was abandoned by Spain in 1975, being immediatly occupied by Morocco and Mauritania.
Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since the 1960s when it was a Spanish colony.
The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR) dispute control of the territory. Since a United Nations-sponsored cease-fire agreement in 1991, most of the territory has been controlled by Morocco, with the remainder under the control of Polisario/SADR. Internationally, the major powers such as the United States have taken a generally ambiguous and neutral position on each side's claims, and have pressed both parties to agree on a peaceful resolution. Both Morocco and Polisario have sought to boost their claims by accumulating formal recognition, from largely minor states. Polisario has won formal recognition for SADR from roughly 45 states, and was extended membership in the African Union, while Morocco has won formal recognition for its position from 25 states, as well as the membership of the Arab League[1][2]. In both instances, recognitions have over the past two decades been extended and withdrawn according to changing international trends.
Learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara
Western Sahara Online: http://www.wsahara.net/2007 is the International year of solidarity with Saharawi People. The self... more
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Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for one of Pakistan's deadliest bombings, which injured 290 people and turned Ms Bhutto's homecoming into a bloodbath.Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for one of Pakistan's deadliest... more
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There has been an upsurge in interest in the concept of happiness in communities where you wouldnt expect to find it; According to a Times article, both politicians and scientists are studying the economics of happiness. While scientists attempt to define and measure happiness, governments are trying to use this information to create a happier constituency. Where it used to be thought that money could buy happiness, which led to the pursuit of a higher Gross National Product (or GDP), it turns out that this isnt exactly true. Once people reach a certain level of income where all their basic needs are met, they dont actually become much happier with any additional increase in wealth.
If thats the case, then all underdeveloped nations should still rank lower than developed nations, right? Not necessarily. This is why we now turn our attention to Bhutan, where the people seem to be really quite happy. It was their king who came up with the term "Gross National Happiness. His philosophy is rooted in the Buddhist notion that the ultimate purpose in life is inner happiness, which led him to emphasize such things as environmental awareness, stress reduction, and preserving and promoting cultural values in his country's decision making process. Consequently his goverment have outlawed things such as plastic bags, billboards and traffic lights.
According to Newsweek, countries as diverse as Bhutan, Australia, China, Thailand and the U.K. are coming up with happiness indexes, to be used alongside GDP as a guide to society's progress. Interestingly, according to a second Newsweek article, which lists the happiest and unhappiest countries, though the U.S. is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, it doesnt even rank in the top 10 of the happiest.
There have already been two world conferences on Gross National Happiness, the third, entitled Towards Global Transformation: World Views Make a Difference, is due to take place in November in Thailand. The World Database of Happiness keeps track of scientific research on the subjective appreciation of life. But while scientists and governments try to figure out how best to serve us, it is our job to discover what really makes us happy, so we can all work together to make a happier world.
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantraThere has been an upsurge in interest in the concept of happiness in communities where... more
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The Women Deliver global conference addressing maternal and newborn mortality worldwide convenes in London today. It is aimed at an often underrepresented global tragedy that results in a loss of 10 million women for each generation. Also, according to the conference website www.womendeliver.org, there are huge disparities in survival rates between rich and poor countries, and between the rich and poor within each country. "In the ten top-ranked countries, where women are guaranteed good-quality health and family planning services that minimize their lifetime risk, fewer than one in 16,400 women will die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. One in 4,800 women will die of these causes in the United States. The rate for black U.S. women in 2000 was nearly four times that for white non-Hispanic women. In sub-Saharan Africa, where high fertility multiplies the dangers women face over their lifetimes, one in every 22 women will die in pregnancy or childbirth. In Niger such complications kill one in every seven women."
The conference assembles minds and hearts dedicated to bringing greater visibility to this issue in hopes of attracting resources and funding needed for further research and prevention.The Women Deliver global conference addressing maternal and newborn mortality... more
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Check out this video part of the global multi-media project, Why Democracy? It is focused on discussions about democracy today. The project brings together independent filmmakers from around the world together on democracy-related issues. And their works are being simultaneously broadcast globally on the internet all this month. It's an interesting multi-cultural conversation following diverse perspectives on the topic of democracy. Check it out! Check out this video part of the global multi-media project, Why Democracy? It is... more
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Absolutely everything, say it again! Well it's about time that China became a debate topic for our Presidential hopefuls. Absolutely everything, say it again! Well it's about time that China became a... more
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Former Prime Minister Bhutto's latest 'talks' with Musharraf could bring much needed political balance and free elections to Pakistan. The end of a seemingly endless era of political corruption, military coups, and consistent factional conflict? Or just the same familiar faces battling for power at the expense of the powerless? Former Prime Minister Bhutto's latest 'talks' with Musharraf could... more
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The communist government of Cuba has signed two human rights accords that were first ratified by the UN more than 40 years ago. Castro spent much of his presidency refusing to sign the treaties, saying that to do so would be "to cede pressure from the US." But just days after power was handed over to his younger brother Raul, Cuba has signed on to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reportedly without any foreign pressure playing a part.
"The treaty requires countries to ensure the right to work, to fair wages, to form trade unions and allow all people to join the union of their choice, to social security, to education and the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
Some are calling this the first step in the right direction for the new government of Cuba. Do you agree?The communist government of Cuba has signed two human rights accords that were first... more
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