Against all the odds an individual manages to create an annual global 'Peace Day'; but can he inspire an actual ceasefire and silence the cynics by proving the day can actually save lives?
Appearances by Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, MIchael Douglas, Jane Goodall, the UN Security Council, the UN secretary General, and more
One hour seventeen minutes.Against all the odds an individual manages to create an annual global 'Peace Day'; but... more
Quick: What does global warming look like? A forlorn polar bear stuck on a splintering glacier makes for a gripping visual, but a new report says there are millions of climate-change victims we don't see — and many look just like us. The Global Humanitarian Forum paints a grim portrait of the human toll inflicted by Earth's gradual rise in temperature: 26 million people displaced, $125 billion in annual economic losses and more than 300,000 yearly deaths, as climate change speeds desertification and magnifies scourges from malnutrition to flooding. "We can no longer hold back from speaking out on the silent suffering of millions worldwide," writes the group's leader, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.The Gist:
Quick: What does global warming look like? A forlorn polar bear stuck on... more
Iran has summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over comments made by the French president about his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Nicolas Sarkozy said earlier this week that he would not be able to shake hands with someone who said Israel had to be wiped off the map.
Ambassador Bernard Poletti was told of Iran's strong objections and he was told there would be repercussions for relations if such remarks were repeated.
"How is it that a people such as the Iranian people - one of the world's greatest peoples, one of the world's oldest civilisations, sophisticated, cultured, open - have the misfortune of being represented as they are today by some of their leaders?
"I have said this to my friend Kofi [Annan]: I find it impossible to shake hands with somebody who has dared to say that Israel must be wiped off the map.
"I know perfectly well that we must resolve what is perhaps the most serious international crisis we are having to resolve: that of Iran moving towards a nuclear bomb."Iran has summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over comments made by the French... more
Zimbabwe has barred former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other prominent figures from visiting the country to assess the humanitarian crisis, the group said on Saturday.
They said they were denied travel visas to Zimbabwe despite the intervention of former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating the political conflict between President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
"We had hoped to go to Zimbabwe this morning but we had to cancel because the government has made it clear they will not co-operate," Annan told a news briefing in Johannesburg.
Annan, Carter and Nelson Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, are part of a group of prominent figures and former statesmen called The Elders.
"Our purpose in coming here was never to be involved in the political issues that have been so controversial in the establishment of a new government in Zimbabwe, but only to help with the humanitarian issue and we will continue to do that," Carter said.
Zimbabwe's government denied it had refused the three Elders permission to enter the country.Zimbabwe has barred former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan, former U.S. President... more
The corrupt government of Dictator Robert Mugbe and his military forces has persecuted, raped, murdered, threatened, tourted, and beaten to near death. The SADC (South African Development Community has been support Mugbe and his Warlords for decades, and they continue to support him, many other organizations in Africa support him. This is crazy, the Zimbabwean people are suffering, dying, getting killed, tourted, raped, and other unimaginable things, just because of Political injustices, and the corrupt government of Dictator Robert Mugbe and his political influence, All African Governments need to Unite and Become a stronger groups of people, their whole continent needs help. They were denied because they want nothing to do with the West (America).The corrupt government of Dictator Robert Mugbe and his military forces has... more
LONDON, England (AP) -- Rising global food prices threaten to destroy years of economic progress in Africa and drive 100 million people into poverty, a high-profile international panel said Monday.
Real progress in Africa now risks being undone by the food crisis, says a high-profile international panel.
The Africa Progress Panel also said wealthy countries are likely to fail in their promise to deliver billions more in aid to the continent by 2010.
"Africa has made substantial progress in recent years," said former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who chairs the panel.
"However, the current food crisis threatens to reverse many of the hard-fought gains that have been made," he said.
"With 100 million people on the brink of abject poverty, the cost of food will not be measured in the price of wheat and rice, but in the rising number of infant and child deaths across Africa."
The panel was formed last year to focus world leaders' attention on the continent and monitor progress toward meeting ambitious aid commitments. Its 11 members include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and anti-poverty activist Bob Geldof.
In its annual report, the panel called on leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations to "urgently fund shortfalls against their targets to double assistance to Africa by 2010."
The July 2005 G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, garnered commitments to increase foreign aid by $50 billion a year by 2010 -- with half of that going directly to Africa -- and to cancel the debt of the most heavily indebted poor nations.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported in April that foreign aid by major donor countries slumped in 2007 as debt-relief plans tapered off and amid a global economic downturn in Japan and some other rich nations.
The Africa Progress Panel concluded that despite increases in assistance by some countries, "the G-8's commitment to double assistance to Africa by 2010 is not likely to be fulfilled." It said current commitments fell $40 billion short of the Gleneagles target.
The panel called on the G-8 countries -- U.S., Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada -- to tackle the food crisis and promote trade, infrastructure and governance reforms when they meet in Hokkaido, Japan, on July 7-9.
LONDON, England (AP) -- Rising global food prices threaten to destroy years of... more
Climate change is the single most destructive force confronting humanity, according to Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations. Annan is heading the first ever Global Humanitarian Forum in Geneva. Some of the world’s heavyweights in politics, business and science are discussing how to slow climate change. World Radio Switzerland’s Alex Helmick was at the forum and has this report.
Senior figures in Zimbabwe's opposition were in hiding last night as a massive power struggle played out after the weekend elections in which President Robert Mugabe's government appeared to have been defeated.
Official results from the state-appointed electoral commission were issued yesterday, with almost theatrical slowness.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change claimed a landslide victory and declared its leader Morgan Tsvangirai an outright winner. Spokesman Tendai Biti warned the government against stealing the election, saying: "Zimbabwe is on the edge of a precipice."
With neither Mr Tsvangirai nor Mr Mugabe seen in public since Saturday, the country has been gripped by fear and uncertainty. Yesterday phone lines were jammed and people were only able to communicate through text. Although riot police were able to prevent widespread opposition celebrations, by last night hundreds of excited text message circulars were promising a new beginning.
Mr Mugabe had, according to one rumour, left the country, but there has been no independent confirmation of this.
Gordon Brown held emergency talks with the South African President Thabo Mbeki and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan yesterday, and Foreign Secretary David Miliband was in Paris last night to discuss the election with counterparts from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain during wider talks.
Senior figures in Zimbabwe's opposition were in hiding last night as a massive power... more
Kenya's opposition party leader, Raila Odinga, has today called off planned protests that could have signalled an end to the Kofi Annan mediated peace talks.
Annan had said that the negotiations had become 'acrimonious' and the situation was 'very dangerous.' He concluded that it was now up to president Kibaki and Odinga to resolve the issues over power sharing in the proposed prime minister position.
In a statement speaking to ITN, Odinga said "We will postpone until further notice any kind of actions intended for tomorrow."
I guess it's a step in the right direction from Odinga, but can the two warring leaders find resolution to their problems and seal a less violent future for Kenya?
Kenya's opposition party leader, Raila Odinga, has today called off planned protests... more
Following the instigation of the much needed talks between the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, Railia Odinga, it has been reported that the talks have broken down after disagreements over the amount of power that should be allotted to the proposed post of prime minister surfaced.
Under mounting pressure to cease the conflict in Kenya, Kofi Annan has reportedly intervened in an attempt to salvage the talks and said that it is up to Kibaki and Odinga to come to an agreement, also commenting that the negotiations had become 'acrimonious' and the situation 'very dangerous.'
The opposition ODM has also threatened to relaunch mass protests on Thursday if a political deal is not reached.
Police have increased their estimate of the death toll of post-election clashes and now say at least 1,500 have died. An increase of over 50% on initial estimated numbers.
Following the instigation of the much needed talks between the Kenyan President Mwai... more
A Kenyan policeman is to be charged with the murder of two men he was caught on video shooting at. The victims were later found dead during election protests in the western city of Kisumu.
According to Kofi Annan, it is still too dangerous to hold a new round of polls in Kenya, amidst the potential of worsening violence, this comes following the news that, as reported via a BBC correspondent, "that the talks between the government and opposition aimed at ending five weeks of unrest are on the brink of collapse."
There is also a video of the reported shooting at the BBC link.A Kenyan policeman is to be charged with the murder of two men he was caught on video... more
The trouble in Kenya is still underway after another four people were killed by Kenyan police following more violent protesting in the west of the country.
The trouble reported is said to be in light of the death of a second ODP opposition party MP, who was shot yesterday by police.
Following on from the shooting the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging that the unrest must be halted. Kenya's situation looks nothing short of dire at the moment with over 850 people being killed in what is now reaching nearly a month long struggle over political standings in the country. The trouble in Kenya is still underway after another four people were killed by Kenyan... more
Kenya's rival politicians today postponed negotiations brokered by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan after the killing of an opposition MP.
"We have postponed this afternoon's session and we will work all day tomorrow so that the leaders can attend to urgent matters and call their constituents," Annan told reporters.
The postponement came after the MP, David Kimutai Too, was shot dead in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, the second MP from the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to be killed this week.
Kenya's rival politicians today postponed negotiations brokered by former UN... more
Despite a handshake between Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday at talks mediated by Kofi Annan, new violence has broken out in Kenya leaving around 7 dead. The total number of fatalities in the clashes over the December 27 elections is near 800, while about 260,000 have been displaced.Despite a handshake between Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila... more
After meeting with both separately, Kofi Annan moderated a meeting between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Both sides say they are committed to continuing the dialogue and to establishing a lasting peace.After meeting with both separately, Kofi Annan moderated a meeting between Kenyan... more
And with it, further violence could very likely follow. 3 days of mass rallies are planned for next week. Kofi Annan is also scheduled to arrive next week to try and bring an end to the violence.
And with it, further violence could very likely follow. 3 days of mass rallies are... more
3 major developments in the situation in Kenya:
1. Talks between the two sides broke down after moderation by the AU was not successful.
2. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has agreed to moderate the next round of talks.
3. Both sides have agreed to end all violence and "any acts which may be detrimental to finding a peaceful solution" to the crisis.3 major developments in the situation in Kenya:
1. Talks between the two sides broke... more
