Podcasts about peacekeeping operations

Thomas is joined by Mathieu Lefevre, co-founder of More In Common, to explore the growing polarization in society and the surprising ways in which we are actually more united than we think.  Mathieu discusses his extensive research on social divisions in the U.S. and Europe, revealing how social media and news media create a distorted mirror of reality that exaggerates our differences. He explains the concept of perception gaps, where people overestimate how extreme their opponents' views are, and offers insights on how to bridge these divides. Thomas and Mathieu examine the critical role of listening, intergroup contact, and shared spaces in fostering social cohesion. As climate change and other global challenges put increasing pressure on our collective resilience, we need new forms of collaboration and understanding so that we can move beyond toxic division and build a healthier, more connected society. Click here to watch the video version of this episode on YouTube:

Send us a textOn today's Zero Limits Podcast I sit down with Heston Russell former 2nd Commando Regiment Australian Special Forces Officer.As a fifth generation Army Veteran, Heston followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Australian Army at the age of 17, graduating from the Royal Military College of Duntroon, Upon completion he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR). In 2010, Heston successfully completed the highly-competitive Special Forces selection (to become a Qualified Commando Officer within the 2nd Commando Regiment (2 CDO REGT), Special Operations Command - Australia (SOCOMD).During his service he deployed on multiple times including, Peacekeeping Operations in Timor-Leste, four Combat Operational Deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East and serving in Iraq as the Special Operations Joint Lead Planner within the Special Operations Joint Task Force.In a significant victory in October 2023, Heston won a defamation case against the ABC and two journalists for false reporting of war crime allegations.www.getsome.com.auInstagram @getsome_auDiscount Code ZEROLIMITS www.3zeroscoffee.com.auInstargram @3zeroscoffee Discount Code 3ZLimits Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en

In this episode of Pekingology, Freeman Chair in China Studies Jude Blanchette is joined by Courtney Fung, Associate Professor in the Department of Security Studies & Criminology at Macquarie University. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Asia Society Australia and at the Lowy Institute. They discuss her article “Peace by piece: China's policy leadership on peacekeeping fatalities” (Contemporary Security Policy, July 2022), China's role in the United Nations, and its involvement with international peacekeeping efforts.

In this quick NAWL Podcast episode, NAWL Board Member, Lindsay Carlson, speaks with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs who represents California's 51st Congressional District. Lindsay and Rep. Jacobs discuss the impact of Jacobs' perspective as a millennial Congresswoman, her focus on affordable housing and reproductive rights, and her advice to any woman considering running for Congress. ***Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (she/her) is in her second term in Congress and proudly serves California's 51st Congressional District, which includes much of the City of San Diego, and all of the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and the unincorporated communities of Spring Valley and La Presa.Congresswoman Jacobs is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa. She is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee and sits on the Committee's Quality of Life Panel. In the House Democratic Caucus, she serves as the Caucus Leadership Representative, representing the Democratic Members who have served five terms or less at the Democratic House leadership table. At 35 years old, she is the youngest member of Democratic House leadership.Congresswoman Jacobs also serves as Founding Co-Chair of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict (POCC) Caucus; Vice Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group; and Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, where she is Co-Chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force.Prior to serving in elected office, Congresswoman Jacobs spent years working to address, minimize, and prevent conflict, instability, and inequality around the world. She worked in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations; in the Innovation Unit at UNICEF; in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations at the U.S. Department of State; and as a foreign policy advisor to Secretary Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign.Congresswoman Jacobs also served as the Founding CEO of Project Connect, a nonprofit dedicated to mapping schools and their Internet connectivity around the world, which has since become one of UNICEF's flagship programs. She served as a Scholar in Residence at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego, and in 2018, she founded San Diego for Every Child, a coalition dedicated to ending child poverty in San Diego County.A third-generation San Diegan, Congresswoman Jacobs graduated from Torrey Pines High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of International Affairs degree in International Security Policy and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University.

Haiti is a country that has suffered through a long, hard history. From disasters, both natural and man-made, the people of Haiti continue to strive to create a bright future for themselves. However, today that goal seems further away than ever and many people would be hard pressed to see the light at the end of the tunnel. How did a land that was once the Pearl in the Crown of the French Empire ends up in such chaos? In this episode we explore the rich and challenging history of this country, while looking at the current crisis and explaining the difficult road ahead. However, this is not all doom and gloom, as there are glimmers of hope that we can look to in order to see a brighter future for the people of this island nation.Sophie Rutenbar is a visiting fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings, which she joins as a Council on Foreign Relations international affairs fellow. She also currently works as a visiting scholar with the Prevention and Peacebuilding Program of the New York University Center for International Cooperation.Rutenbar was previously the mission planning officer for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. Based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she worked in the front office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General conducting strategic planning for the United Nations in Haiti. Before that, she served as political affairs officer with the policy planning team of the United Nations Department of Peace Operations. In that role, she worked extensively on U.N. peacekeeping and peace and security reform processes, including supporting the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative (2018-present), the secretary-general's Peace and Security Restructuring (2017-18) and the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (2015). Rutenbar also helped lead efforts to enhance U.N. peace operations' capacity to respond to the evolving technology landscape and strengthen U.N. efforts to engage with non-state armed groups.Her other experience at the U.N. has included working with the United Nations Department of Field Support, United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and the U.N. Secretary-General's high-level panel on the global response to future health crises. She joined the United Nations in 2013 as the first U.S.-sponsored associate expert/junior professional officer in the U.N. Secretariat, working with the policy planning team for the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support.Before joining the U.N., Rutenbar worked for organizations in Sudan and South Sudan, including observing the 2011 referendum process on independence for southern Sudan with the Carter Center and working for USAID's Sudan and South Sudan Transition and Conflict Mitigation Program. She also has experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Thailand.She was a 2005 Truman Scholar and previously served as co-president of the board of the Truman Scholars Association. She is also a security fellow with the Truman National Security Project. Rutenbar graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Dallas, where she studied global politics as a Eugene McDermott Scholar. Through the Marshall Scholarship, she received master's degrees in conflict, security, and development from the War Studies Department at King's College London and in human rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

There are similarities between the UN's efforts to pursue a disarmament strategy for nuclear weapons and the regulation of the military applications of AI. Given the multiple parallel initiatives on this issue, inputs would also have to be gathered from a range of stakeholders already working on the issue, such as the REAIM participants, the United States, and other countries, in order to regulate AI in the military domain. The private sector has a role here to drive governance on this topic as well, given that most of the technology emanates from their R&D efforts. Here, more regulation should not be seen as a roadblock to innovation; instead, it can accelerate it. This is because empirically-based regulations would allow the adoption of such AI systems to be faster. The lack of any such regulation could even lead to undesirable outcomes, which may hamper the growth of the industry.  In this episode of Interpreting India, Izumi Nakamitsu joins Konark Bhandari to discuss the military applications of AI.EPISODE CONTRIBUTORSIzumi Nakamitsu assumed her position as under-secretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs on May 1, 2017. Prior to taking on this post, she served as assistant administrator of the Crisis Response Unit at the United Nations Development Programme since 2014. She has many years of experience within and outside the UN system, most recently as special adviser ad interim on follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants between 2016 and 2017. She was previously director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations between 2012 and 2014 and director of the Department's Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training from 2008 to 2012. She holds a Master of Science degree in foreign service from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University, Tokyo.Konark Bhandari is a fellow with Carnegie India. He is a lawyer who has researched certain areas in the digital economy, focusing primarily on approaches to antitrust regulation of companies in the digital realm. He had earlier worked at India's antitrust regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), where he worked closely with senior officials on a variety of matters. He is also an avid follower of the regulation of the space technology ecosystem and is keen to contribute to that discipline. While at the CCI, he was a member of the Internal Coordination Committee on the Think Tank on Digital Markets. Konark was also attached to the office of the chairperson of CCI, where his duties involved providing a briefing on live cases as well as speechwriting responsibilities. Konark has published papers in the areas of antitrust, intellectual property, and corporate law. 

Dr. Sivabalan Suppiah is a remarkable figure. He has served as a police officer with the Royal Malaysian Police for more than 19 years now. In 2021, he was selected to be part of UNPOL – United Nations Police – and has gone on peacekeeping missions on the ground in South Sudan. There he earned the title of Peacekeeper of the Day by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Dr Sivabalan is a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow and was recently awarded the Fulbright Malaysia Alumni Impact Award at the MACEE Homecoming Gala 2023.He joins us on the show to share his journey.

About Speaker: Dr. Kiran Bedi is the first woman to have joined the officer ranks of Indian Police Service. She was the 24th former Lt Governor of Puducherry. Also served the United Nations as Civilian Police Advisor in Peacekeeping Operations. Winner of gallantry award and the Magsaysay Award also known as Asia's Nobel Peace Award. She has a biopic on her life called Yes Madam Sir. Made by an Australian. She founded two Foundations, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation which serve the underprivileged in rural, urban areas and in prisons for the last 30 years. Her latest book Fearless Governance, now translated into Hindi and Tamil is based on ground realities as she saw in serving as the Lt Governor Puducherry as released by Ms Indra Nooyi, Prof Debashish Chatterjee and Smita Prakash. They called it a “blueprint for Good Governance cutting across leadership qualities both, in the private and public sector”. #Soulfulस्कूलConference #mysphere #zamit --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/future-school-leaders/message

In this session Dr. Bakare Najimdeen argues how a nation's peacekeeping efforts represent and qualify as military diplomacy. He points out that all military personnel, even foot soldiers, can engage in military diplomacy. He indicates that traditional diplomacy is characteristically non-coercive, while the methods and implementation of military diplomacy can be both non-coercive and coercive. This session is hosted by Hester Postma, project officer on Military Diplomacy. About the expert: Dr. Bakare Najimdeen is currently the Head of Department (HoD) at Centre for International Peace & Stability (CIPS), the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.

2022 has seen a marked shift in the levels and severity of intra and interstate conflict. The security of many of the environments in which peacekeeping is deployed has deteriorated due to local and regional dynamics, and this has only been compounded by tensions within the permanent five of the Security Council. In his address to the IIEA, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix discusses the current state of UN Peacekeeping, the challenges it is facing and what more is needed to make the utmost of this unique multilateral tool. This Event is part of the Global Europe Project in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. About the Speaker: Jean-Pierre Lacroix was appointed as Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations in February 2017 by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres. From 2014-2017 Mr. Lacroix served as Director for United Nations, International Organizations, Human Rights and Francophonie at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previous appointments include Ambassador of France to Sweden, Chief of Protocol of France, Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York, Deputy Chief of Mission at the French Embassy in Prague and First Secretary then Second Counsellor at the French Embassy in Washington.

In this episode Oves Anwar and Dr. Tughral Yamin discuss the relationship between IHL and Peacekeeping Operations_________________________Legal Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the videos on the Diplomacy, Law Policy (DLP) Forum are those of the guests. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the DLP Forum, its editorial team, or its affiliated organizations. The DLP Forum hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of its content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.

This week ETA is joined by Francisco Ramirez! Francisco holds an MPH from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and has 20 years of experience in the sexual health field including working with the United Nations (UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations), MTV, Planned Parenthood, Durex, Hetrick-Martin Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York Academy of Medicine, and the NAACP. He is co-founder of the newly released sex education app OkaySo and offers #FreeSexAdvice on relationships, sex, and dating to passersby in NYC parks. Christine and Ellie chat with Francisco about his journey in the sexual health field, a shared love for Love Victor, alternative models to sex education, his app OkaySo, what it's like to give #FreeSexAdvice in NYC, and his love of cold weather! Check out Francisco's website to learn more about his amazing work: https://franciscoramirez.com/    Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/embarrassedtoask  IG: @embarrassedtoask Contact us: embarrassedtoaskpodcast@gmail.com  Submit an anonymous question: https://forms.gle/UdHKid8PbvcpV5iC8   Buy ETA stickers: https://forms.gle/pHfPxyV3D2HmSB2n9. Designed by @twentysome.design Cover Art & Branding by Rachel Hobart, @rhobes   Editing & Music by Greg Hagstrom, greghagjr@gmail.com

Welcome to the 38th Episode of the #100MasterCoaches​ Show. In this episode, Mel interviews Giuseppe Totino, MCC from Orlando, Florida, USA. Giuseppe is a Master Certified Coach, an ICF Registered Mentor Coach, Assessor, and Trainer, Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), is the Principal of Giuseppe Totino LLC, a leadership development and executive coaching business. For over 15 years, he has worked with leaders and with coaches as a coach, mentor, and learning facilitator. In 2019 and 2020, as a Subject Matter Expert, he has been part of the Work Team that contributed to the update of the ICF Coaching Core Competencies and the Professional-level (PCC) Coaching Competency Markers. An ICF Registered Mentor Coach, Giuseppe is the creator of The EASIER Framework, a learning compendium to help coaches quickly and intuitively build confidence in the Coaching Core Competencies along their professional journeys. He runs innovative Group and Individual Mentor Coaching Programs and to date, 100% of his mentees have been successful on their first Credentialing Application. He regularly conducts workshops and mentoring camps for prestigious organizations and coaching schools in Europe, Russia, and China. He is frequently invited to speak on coaching and to give seminars on coaching competencies and coaching demos. As a Learning Facilitator, Giuseppe has worked with over 1800 top executives, middle managers, emerging leaders, and teams worldwide. His corporate clients include large multinationals like Kerry, NTT, ENEL, Luxottica, Ferrero, Coca-Cola AdventHealth, and many other reputable organizations in various industries. He also worked for over a decade both as a coach and learning facilitator for the United Nations Secretariat Management Dev. Program and several UN Agencies, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the International Court of Justice, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the UNHCR, FAO, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) where he is currently co-leading a Workplace Cultural change project. Giuseppe, a former UK Chartered Tax Advisor and International Consultant with KPMG, holds a Master of Laws (L.L.M.), a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Marketing, and a Degree in Economics and Finance. Like Giuseppe, you too can become a Certified Coach. Start your journey today at Catalyst Coach www.catalystcoach.live

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu gives the second address in the new Global Europe webinar series, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs. She addresses milestones and prospects for multilateral disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and arms control. The High Representative reflects on the disarmament regime in the context of the COVID-19 crisis and on the steps needed to reinvigorate multilateral cooperation towards securing our common future. About the Speaker:   Ms Izumi Nakamitsu assumed her position as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs on 1 May 2017. Prior to taking on this post, Ms. Nakamitsu served as Assistant Administrator of the Crisis Response Unit at the UN Development Programme since 2014. She has many years of experience within and outside the UN system, most recently as Special Adviser Ad Interim on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants between 2016 and 2017. She was previously Director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations between 2012 and 2014, and Director of the Department's Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, from 2008 to 2012.

Join historian John Lestrange for Episode 6 of Genostory: We Agreed to do This. This month we'll be discussing the most rapid and low tech of 20th century genocides, the Rwandan Genocide.Also, as a reminder to everyone listening Black Lives Matter and All Cops are BastardsSpecial thanks to the app Hatchful and MJ Bradley for designing and editing out logo.Show music is "Crusade - Heavy Industry by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.Sources:Propaganda and Conflict: Evidence from the Rwandan Genocide by David Yanagizawa-Drott. The Quarterly Journal of Economics. August 2014Bystanders to Genocide: Why the US Let the Rwandan Tragedy Happen by Samantha Power. The Atlantic Monthly Sept 2001.Akhavan, Payam (1996). "The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: The Politics and Pragmatics of Punishment". American Journal of International Law. 90 (3): 501–10.Aptel, Cicile (2008). "Closing the U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: Completion Strategy and Residual Issues". New England Journal of International and Comparative Law. 14 (2): 169–88.Dallaire, Roméo (2005). Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. London: Arrow Books.Des Forges, Alison (1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda (Report). New York: Human Rights Watch.The Order of Genocide: The Dynamics of Genocide in Rwanda by Scott Straus Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal. Vol 2. No 3. 2007.Totten, Samuel; Bartrop, Paul Robert; Jacobs, Steven L. (2008). Dictionary of Genocide, Volume 2: M–Z. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (2008). "United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Principles and Guidelines“Verwimp, Philip (2006). "Machetes and Firearms: The Organization of Massacres in Rwanda". Journal of Peace Research. 43 (1): 5–22 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Put The Peace Back Into UN Peacekeeping Operations, a Policy Options podcast. Canada is rethinking the way it contributes to United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world. The federal government promised boots on the ground more than a year ago, and it has yet to deliver. But is that really where Canada should focus its efforts? Our host, journalist and McGill University law student Ryan Hicks, spoke to Lou Pingeot, co-ordinator of McGill’s Centre for International Peace and Security Studies. She and Vincent Pouliot are the authors of the recent Policy Options article Replacer la paix au cœur des opérations de l’ONU. Download for free. New episodes every second Tuesday. Tweet your questions and comments to @IRPP.

Event recording from 28/06/2017 THE POLITICS OF FORCE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE UN'S STRATEGIES FOR NEUTRALIZING ARMED GROUPS Speaker: Adam Day, Senior Researcher at the UN University and formerly Senior Political Advisor with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo This talk examined the current security dynamics in eastern DRC, looking in particular at the armed groups which are the priority targets for MONUSCO’s neutralization mandate. Based on his recent experience as the Senior Political Adviser to MONUSCO, Adam Day described the strategies MONUSCO is implementing to address the threats posed by these armed groups, some of the unintended consequences of the use of force, and implications for the UN’s broader mandates to protect civilians and stabilize conflict-affected areas. Biography: Adam Day joined as Senior Policy Adviser in the UNU Centre for Policy Research in January 2017. Prior to UNU, he served for a decade in the UN, focused on peace operations, political engagement in conflict settings, mediation and protection of civilians. He served as Senior Political Adviser to MONUSCO (DRC), in the UN Special Coordinator’s Office for Lebanon, in the front offices of both UNMIS (Khartoum) and UNAMID (Darfur), and was a political officer in both the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York. Prior to the UN, Mr Day worked in Human Rights Watch’s Justice Program, for the Open Society Justice Initiative in Cambodia, and supported the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. An attorney and former member of the New York Bar Association, Mr Day was an international litigator in New York, where he also worked pro bono for the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Guantanamo detainees in their suits against former US officials for torture.

Grant Gordon is a political scientist and policymaker who specializes in humanitarian intervention. He’s a fellow at the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation, and has worked on humanitarian and development policy for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Office of Humanitarian Coordination, the UN Refugee Agency, as well as the Rwandan Government, Open Society Justice Initiative and other organizations. All of that is a long way of saying he works on the some of the world's worst problems and conflicts, and tries to figure out which interventions will actually help. He’s embedded with the Congolese military to try to understand why soldiers attack citizens, he's used satellites to monitor and deter genocidal violence in Darfur, and he's studied the ways in which peacekeepers can win hearts and minds with local communities in Haiti. And over and over again, he's found that good intentions do not always make good policies. It's a valuable lesson — and Grant is a valuable voice — for anyone who thinks seriously about policymaking. Grant is also a good friend whose work has long fascinated me, and so it was great to get a chance to interrogate him on it for two hours. Among other things, we covered:- How to read academic literature efficiently- Grant’s path from being a kid in California to working in the Rwandan health ministry to hiding under cars in Congo- What his whiteness and Jewish heritage means in his work on humanitarian policy- How the politics around humanitarian intervention have changed since the 90s- How and why he got an internship, as a college student, in the Rwandan health ministry by cold emailing Rwanda's health minister- How randomized controlled trials do and don’t help humanitarian work- Why it's actually difficult for a fragile society to build an army strong enough to protect its citizens but not so strong it overthrows the government- How to care for yourself when you work in and out of conflict-torn placesAnd much more. Towards the end of the interview, Grant turns the tables and questions me for a bit, so keep an ear out for that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 10 August the Lowy Institute hosted an address from James Cockayne, a strategist, international lawyer and writer. A visiting lecturer at Columbia University, a Hauser scholar at New York University School of Law, and a University Medallist in government and public administration at the University of Sydney, Dr. Cockayne has worked in public service, academia and the advocacy arena. He was Co-Director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, leading their work in New York and Africa. Earlier, Dr. Cockayne served as Principal Legal Officer in the Transnational Crime and Extradition Units in the Australian Attorney-General’s Department; as Chair of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of International Criminal Justice; and also as a civil society member of the multistakeholder group that established an oversight mechanism for the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers. Dr. Cockayne has at various times been a consultant and adviser to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the World Bank, the Center on Humanitarian Dialogue, International Alert, the Norwegian Peacebuilding Forum, the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, and the Global Leadership Forum. His books include Hidden Power: The Strategic Logic of Organized Crime (Hurst, forthcoming 2016); Peace Operations and Organized Crime: Enemies or Allies? (Routledge, 2011), edited with Adam Lupel; and Beyond Market Forces: Regulating the Global Security Industry (IPI, 2009).

The Secretary-General appointed Mr. Edmond Mulet (Guatemala) to serve as his Chef de Cabinet effective 2 December 2015. Mr. Mulet has most recently been serving as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, since 1 June 2011, a function that he had previously held from 2007 to 2010. In this function, he has helped oversee and manage operations on four continents, in a period when peacekeeping operations reached historic heights in levels of deployment, troops and police contributors, budgets and complexity of mandates. Mr. Mulet has served twice as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), most recently in 2010-2011. In 2010, he deployed to Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the January earthquake and led the United Nations' contribution to the country's recovery, from the provision of humanitarian assistance to reconstruction to the holding of presidential elections. During his tenure in MINUSTAH from 2006 to 2007, the Mission worked in close partnership with the Haitian authorities and international partners to make significant improvements in the country's stability and to undertake key institutional reforms. Prior to his appointment with the United Nations, Mr. Mulet served his country as a diplomat and a legislator, having been posted as Ambassador both to the European Union and to the United States, and having served as a member of Guatemala's National Congress for some 12 years, including one term as President of the National Congress. During his years in the legislature, he was intensely involved in the Central American peace process, the Esquipulas Accords and the Guatemalan Peace negotiations. Mr. Mulet was educated in Guatemala, Canada, the US and Switzerland. In addition to his public service, he worked for many years as a journalist and as a legal counsellor to public institutions and for the private sector, including as manager of several private enterprises and as senior partner in a legal consulting firm. Born in Guatemala in 1951, Mr. Mulet is married and has two children. He is fluent in Spanish, English and French, and understands Portuguese and Haitian Creole.

Main speaker: Katarina Grenfell, Legal Officer in the UN Office of Legal AffairsThe mandates of contemporary United Nations Peacekeeping missions are increasingly robust, often authorizing a range of activities far beyond those historically envisioned as within the remit of UN peacekeepers. For instance, the mandate for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) includes the authorization to “carry out targeted offensive operations through the Intervention Brigade [...] [to] prevent the expansion of all armed groups, neutralize these groups, and disarm them.” This expansion has resulted in a number of legal and operational challenges, including the core question of the application of international humanitarian law to UN peacekeeping contingents. The involvement of UN peacekeepers in hostilities raises a host of issues, including: - What legal framework involves the use of force on the part of the peacekeepers? - What protection, if any, are the peacekeepers afforded under international law? - What is the threshold for the application of international humanitarian law? - What is the temporal and geographic scope of the application of international humanitarian law?This session addressed the fundamental issue of under what circumstances international humanitarian law regulates UN peacekeepers, including a discussion when and for how long international humanitarian law applies in a specific context.For more info, resources and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-17

Main speaker: Katarina Grenfell, Legal Officer in the UN Office of Legal AffairsThe mandates of contemporary United Nations Peacekeeping missions are increasingly robust, often authorizing a range of activities far beyond those historically envisioned as within the remit of UN peacekeepers. For instance, the mandate for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) includes the authorization to “carry out targeted offensive operations through the Intervention Brigade [...] [to] prevent the expansion of all armed groups, neutralize these groups, and disarm them.” This expansion has resulted in a number of legal and operational challenges, including the core question of the application of international humanitarian law to UN peacekeeping contingents. The involvement of UN peacekeepers in hostilities raises a host of issues, including: - What legal framework involves the use of force on the part of the peacekeepers? - What protection, if any, are the peacekeepers afforded under international law? - What is the threshold for the application of international humanitarian law? - What is the temporal and geographic scope of the application of international humanitarian law?This session addressed the fundamental issue of under what circumstances international humanitarian law regulates UN peacekeepers, including a discussion when and for how long international humanitarian law applies in a specific context.For more info, resources and assessments for PHAP members, visit https://phap.org/OLS-HLP-17

In this episode, we look at the riders added to the must-sign 2015 budget, including favors for Wall Street, unions, agribusiness, the oil and gas industry, electric utilities, the vending machine industry, telecoms, the trucking industry, the insurance industry, and the politicians themselves. Please Support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin; click the PayPal "Make it Monthly" checkbox to create a monthly subscription Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! CRomnibus Article: CRomnibus Disaster Signals a Sad New Normal in D.C. by David Dayen. The Fiscal Times. December 2014. Article: Wall Street's Omnibus Triumph, and Others by Russ Choma, OpenSecrets Blog, December 2014. Division A Agriculture & FDA Section 741: Defunds an advisory board made up of scientists that evaluates the effectiveness of food safety inspection processes. Section 750: Prohibits funding from being used to inspect livestock slaughterhouses to make sure diseased animals are separated from animals who will be eaten and to make sure the animals are being slaughtered humanely. Section 751: States can exempt schools from the requirement to provide whole grains to students in school lunches. Section 752: No money can be used to implement a law that would require a sodium reduction in school lunches. Division B Commerce, Justice, & Science Section 202: The Department of Justice can't pay for an abortion unless the mother's life is in danger or unless she was raped. The bill acknowledges that this might be unconstitutional and if so, this provision will be "null and void". Section 501: Money can't be used for propaganda that is not authorized by Congress. Section 509: No money can be used to seek the removal of another country's tobacco marketing restrictions, "except for restrictions which are not applied equally to all tobacco or tobacco products of the same type". Article: US floats cutting tobacco from part of Pacific trade pact, Krista Hughes, Reuters, October 21, 2014. Section 516: "None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used in any whatsoever to support or justify the use of torture by any official or contract employee of the United States Government." Section 517: Fully automatic weapons may be exported to Canada without an export license if they are to be used by the US Federal Government or the government of Canada. Section 519: Prohibits new trade agreements from including language that forces countries to police the unauthorized distribution of patented pharmaceuticals, language that prevents generic versions of drugs before the patent has expired, and language that allows patent owners to prevent importation of products even if their product is available in other countries. Section 528: No money can be used to transfer Khalid Sheikh Mohammaed or any other detainee from Guantanamo Bay prison to another location in the United States. Section 530: The government should purchase Energy Star light bulbs to the extent practicable. Section 533: Prohibits government employees from denying or ignoring a permit to import shotguns. Section 538: Prevents the Department of Justice from using it's money to prevent States from implementing their medical marijuana laws. TITLE VI- Travel Promotion Enhancement and Modernization Act Passed the House in July 2014 and was discussed on CD081: The July Bills. Changes the board of directors of Brand USA – a non-profit organization that advertises U.S. tourism – from being made up of travel industry specialists to one made up of entirely of executives, with five seats reserved for people with ties to multinational corporations. It eliminates the seat for the specialist in intercity passenger rail. Extends the authorization for the government to spend $100 million per year on Brand USA through 2020. Extends the Travel Promotion Fee – a $10 fee charged to people who get a visa to travel into the United States – until 2020. Division C Defense Coming Soon Division D Energy & Water Section 107: Federal funding can't be used to enforce the mitigation regulations known as the "Modified Charleston Method." The Modified Charleston Method was implemented in May 2011 and is a formula for calculating how much wetlands need to be protected for each acre of private development. This method protects more wetlands than are protected when it is not used, generally requiring 3 acres of wetland conservation for every acre destroyed. InfoPacket: The University of New Orleans 2013 Economic Outlook & Real Estate Forecast Seminar for the Northshore One of the projects impacted is a Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline. Kinder Morgan has given almost $80,000 to the Boehner for Speaker Committee. Article: Wetlands Mitigation Rules Get Tougher, and St. Tammany Officials Get Worried by Christine Harvey. The Times-Picayune. March 2012. Amendment added by Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana Press Release: Scalise Applauds Delay of the Modified Charleston Method in 2015 Appropriations Bill, December 2014. The vast majority of Rep. Steve Scalise's campaign funds come from PACs - 71% - but his #1 listed contributing industry is Oil and Gas; he's taken over $600,000. Section 109: Prohibits changes to the regulatory definition of "fill material" or "discharge of fill material". In 2002, the Bush administration changed the definition of "fill material" which can be dumped into waterways with a permit, to include "waste" from coal mining. This was attached by Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho to the 2014 budget. He has taken over $445,000 from electric utilities and $137,000 from mining. Section 111: Prohibits the government from requiring a permit for dumping farming and ranching "fill material" into waterways. Section 112: Deletes an EPA/ Army rule that limits the farming and ranching "fill material" that can be dumped without a permit. Section 312: The Department of Energy is not allowed to construct centrifuges for enriched uranium in 2015 and needs to do a cost-benefit analysis of options for suppling enriched uranium for war purposes and an "estimate to build a national security train". Section 313: Prohibits enforcement of energy efficient light bulb standards. According to the Department of Energy, these standards will save $17.7 billion in energy costs over the next 30 years, as well as avoid 106 million metric tons of co2 emissions. This amendment was added by Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas, whose #5 contributing industry is Electric Utilities - he's taken almost $200,000 -, although he get 69% of his money from PACs. He has added it to must-sign legislation every year since 2010. Division E Financial Services Section 114: The Treasury Department may not redesign the $1 bill. Article: One is the Loneliest Dollar Bill by Sarah Mimms. National Journal. January 2015. Article: Bush Administration Fights Currency Redesign. Associated Press. December 2006. Article: The Blind Welcome a Ruling That May Help Them Count Their Cash by Tina Kelley. New York Times. May 2008. Section 502: Prevents the Federal Communications Commission from implementing a recommendation from 2004 that would change a government subsidy for telecoms to allow payment for broadband lines per household instead of per line, which would effectively reduce the subsidy for the companies. FAQ: Universal Service Administrative Company. Section 630: The text of HR 992, which was the bill written by Citigroup that will allow banks to gamble with credit default swaps on the stock market with customers deposits in FDIC insured banks. Article: Derivatives Markets Growing Again, With Few New Protections by Mayra Rodriguez Valldares. New York Times. May 2014. Article: Three Bankers Bolster Blankfein as Goldman Trading Sinks by Michael Moore. Bloomberg. May 2014. This provision was added by Rep. Kevin Yoder of Kansas, who took over $114,000 from Securities and Investment bankers for the last election alone. Over the course of his four year career, he's taken almost $700,000 from bankers... that we know of. Section 725: "Prohibits Federal agencies from monitoring individuals' internet use." Section 735 Prohibits funding for requirements that would make companies submitting offers for Federal contracts to disclose their political contributions. Section 809: Prohibits Washington DC from using its money to from legalize or reduce the penalties for a schedule I substance, which includes marijuana, for recreational use. Division F Land Management & Environment The Department of the Interior USGS: For the United States Geological Survey to surveys and research topography, geology, hydrology, biology, and the mineral and water resources of the United States... approx $1 billion, available until 9/30/2016. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, offshore safety: $125 million minus fees collected, estimated real appropriation of $66 million for enforcing regulations for leases for oil and gas, other minerals, and energy on the Outer Continental Shelf + $65 million - minus fees collected- over half of which needs to go towards expediting drilling permits on the Outer Continental Shelf. Collection and disbursement of royalties, fees, and other mineral revenue will get $265 million. Wildland fire management: $805 million. Hazardous fuels management and resilient landscapes activities can be privatized. This money can be used by the Secretary of State outside the United States. This money can be used to pay off debts incurred for fires in previous years. This money can be used as emergency funds to deal with earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, storms, oil spills, and to control cricket outbreaks. Section 122: Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from protecting the Sage-Grouse under the Endangered Species Act. Oil backers, conservationists battle over fate of greater sage grouse by Sandra Fish, AlJazeera America, December 2013. Environmental Protection Agency Over $2.3 billion for fire suppression. Federal Firefighting Costs for suppression alone averaged $1.46 billion a year since 2000, a time period that has included 9 out of the 10 hottest years since records began in 1880. Section 411: Allows Alaska red and yellow cedar to be exported to foreign countries. Press Release: Petition Seeks to Protect Tongass' Ancient Yellow Cedars as Endangered Species by the Center for Biological Diversity, June 2014. Article: Forest Service criticized over Tongass management by Maria La Ganga, Los Angeles Times, November 2014. Article: Viking Lumber wins Big Thorne contract, again by Katie Mortiz, Juneau Empire, October 2014. Article: In Alaska, a Battle to Keep Trees, or an Industry, Standing by Michael Wines, New York Times, September 2014. Article: The Forest Service bets on second-growth logging in Alaska by Krista Langlois, High Country News, January 2015. Article: Budget bill boosts logging by Section 419: No money can be used to regulate carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor or methane emitted from livestock production. Section 420: No money can be used to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. Amendments identical to Sections 419 and 420 were attached to the 2014 budget by Rep. Ken Calvert of Southern California. He has taken over $650,000 from Agribusiness. Section 425: No money can be used to regulate the lead content of ammunition or fishing tackle. Division G Labor, Health, & Education Health and Human Services Section 217: Prohibits funding of gun control promotions. Section 220: The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) can privatize research into "security countermeasure" drugs for 10 years. Op-Ed: Ebola and the most important agency America has never heard of by former Rep. Mike Rogers, The Hill, October 2014. Department of Education Section 301: No money can be used for transporting children to other school districts to "carry out a plan of racial desegregation of any school or school system." Section 303: No money can be used to prevent voluntary prayer in public schools. Department of Labor Section 406: The National Labor Relations Board can't use their money to provide employees with electronic voting for electing representatives for their collective bargaining. All Departments Section 506: The Departments of Health & Humans Services, Labor, and Education can't use their money to pay for health benefits coverage that includes abortion coverage. Section 507: Abortions can be paid for with Federal funds if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or if the mother's life is in danger. States will be allowed to cover abortion and abortion coverage can be offered separately. Section 508: No money can be used for research that harms a human embryo. Section 521: No money can be used for programs that distribute sterile needles to drug addicts. Section 529: No money can go towards ACORN, "or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, allied organizations, or successors." Article: Congress's Undying (and Less Than Effective) ACORN Funding Ban, by David Weigel, Bloomberg, December 2014. Ebola Response & Preparedness Ebola money is available for use until September 30, 2019. Over $1.7 billion for the Centers for Disease Control to "respond to Ebola domestically and internationally." $10 million for hospital worker and emergency first responder training. $597 million for global health security The money can be used to purchase and insure vehicles in foreign countries. Section 601: The CDC can use this money to "acquire, lease, construct, alter, renovate, equip, furnish, or manage facilities outside the United States." $238 billion in "emergency" funding will go towards the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases" to "respond to Ebola domestically and internationally." $733 million for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to "respond to Ebola domestically and internationally" to develop and purchase vaccines, "necessary medical supplies, and administrative activities." Money can be used for the "renovation and alteration of privately owned facilities at the State and local level" Division H Congress Section 102: No money can be used to deliver a printed copy of a bill to a Representative unless that Representative asked for it. Section 105: No more than 50 copies total of the US Code can be printed for the entire House of Representatives. Section 1301: The Government Printing Office is renamed to the Government Publishing Office. Division I Military Construction Section 101: Construction contracts with guaranteed profits will be allowed in Alaska and/or if the Defense Secretary says there's a reason for one in writing. Section 109: Military construction money can't be used to pay property taxes in foreign countries. Section 110: The military can't use this money for any new installations without notifying the House and Senate Appropriations Committees first. Section 111: Architect or engineer contracts over $500,000 in Japan, NATO countries, or countries bordering the Arabian Gulf must be awarded to US firms or be partnerships with US firms. Section 117: Money for military construction can be held & used up to four years after it is appropriated. Section 127: $125 million extra is appropriated until September 2018 for projects anywhere excepts in Europe. Section 512: No money can be used to prepare any United States facilities to house detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison. Veterans Veterans benefits will cost $94 billion and medical expenses will cost $59 billion, which is $153 billion total. Section 236 The Veterans Integrated Service Networks are not allowed to change their system for contracting for diabetes monitoring supplies and equipment. Press Release: Sysmex America Sign Two Contracts with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, PR Newswire, November 2013. "Sysmex America now holds Veterans Administration hematology contracts and standardization agreements with 16 of the 21 VISNs." "The VA Schedules are indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity type contracts awarded to pre-approved vendors." OpenSecrets: Hal Rogers, chairman of the Appropriations Committee is a shareholder of Roche Holdings, which signed a 10 year distribution agreement with Sysmex America in 2012 which allows Roche to distribute Sysmex hemotology products to countries around the world. Division J State Department & Foreign Operations $2.1 billion for Worldwide Security protection for the State Department, which has doubled since 2008. Article: Exclusive: Blackwater Wins Piece of $10 Billion Mercenary Deal by Spencer Ackerman, Wired, October 2010. Approximately $3.5 billion will go towards the United Nations, including U.N. "peacekeeping missions". Over $1 billion plus $2.7 billion in "global health programs" funds will go to USAID. $5.6 billion will go towards combatting AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. $2.5 billion will go towards "development assistance", which includes spending on: Agribusiness Setting up financial institutions "Policy and regulatory programs" that "improve the environment" for financial institutions. Marketing Energy and storage facilities Infrastructure Schools spreading "ideas and practices of the United States, including new education material and curricula "To expedite the location, exploration, and development of potential sources of energy in developing countries" Over $2.6 billion for the "Economic Support Fund", which includes funding for: Promoting "economic or political stability" Legal education training Academic training for law enforcement (the military is prohibited from participating) Prison programs "Legal reform" and "revision and modernization of legal codes and procedures" Can be used for loan guarantees for Jordan, Ukraine, and Tunisia and this money won't count towards laws limiting assistance to countries. This money can be used to create "enterprise funds" for Egypt or Tunisia, which are "public-private partnerships for the purpose of investing US Government funds to support the private sector". This money "shall be available for economic programs and may not be used for military or paramilitary purposes." $853 million for the War on Drugs Includes authorization for the "use of herbicides for aerial eradication". Tells the State Department to report on the cost of "establishing an aviation platform in Africa" which would be used for, among other things, counternarcotics. $145 million for "Peacekeeping Operations" to "enhance the capacity of foreign civilian security forces" including military forces in charge of policing civilians (gendarmes). $106 million for "International Military Education and Training." $5 billion for the "Foreign Military Financing Program The money can be used "to procure defense articles and services to enhance the capacity of foreign security forces" Over $3 billion must be grants to Israel $1.3 billion can be put in an interest bearing account at the NY Federal Reserve for Egypt, and the money can be used for weapons as long as Egypt meets a list of demands (including giving detainees access to due process of law). Article: Congress allows Obama to reopen military aid to Egypt by Julian Pecquet. Al Monitor. December 10, 2014. $1 billion will be for Jordan. This money can be used in the Western Sahara. This money can be used for "counterterrorism and counterinsurgency" in Pakistan. Section 7004: The State Department can construction "diplomatic facilities" that include office space or "other accommodations" for the US Marine Corps. The Congressional report on where these facilities are and their costs can be classified. Congress doesn't need to be notified of new diplomatic facilities if there is a "security risk to personnel". Section 7008: Money can't be used to directly assist any government whose elected government is removed by the military. However, we can give that country money again as long as the next government is elected. Section 7034: Prohibits money being used for "tear gas, small arms, light weapons, ammunition, or other items for crowd control purposes for foreign security forces that use excessive force to repress peaceful expression." Section 7041: We will give $150 million to Egypt as long as Egypt is taking steps to "implement market-based economic reforms". Section 7041: The State Department can use its money to create a new government and "promote economic development" in Syria. Section 7042: State Department funds are going towards training and equipping Ethiopian military and police. Section 7042: State Department funds will also towards training militaries in Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d"Ivoire, Guinea, and Zimbabwe. Section 7042: State Department money will go towards managing natural resources and supporting security forces in South Sudan. Section 7043: State Department money will be used for naval forces, coast guards and nongovernmental organizations "directly engaged in maritime security issues" in Asia. Section 7043: State Department money will go towards the Philippine army. Section 7043: State Department money will be given to the military of Vietnam and for health/disability activities in areas sprayed with Agent Orange and/or contaminated with dioxin. Section 7044: The State Department can construct and renovated US government facilities to accommodate Federal employees or contractors or expand aviation facilities in Afghanistan if it would "protect such facilities or the security, health, and welfare of United States personnel." Money for Afghanistan can go towards "programs in Central and South Asia relating to a transition in Afghanistan, including expanding Afghanistan linkages within the region." Section 7044: Money can go towards military training in Sri Lanka. Section 7045: State Department funds can be used to "support a unified campaign against narcotics trafficking" in Columbia. 10% of the funds will go towards "aerial drug eradication programs". Section 7045: State Department funds can be given to the Guatemalan army. Section 7045: State Department funds can be given to the Honduran army and police. Section 7045: State Department funds can be given to the Mexican army and police. Section 7074: $100 million for the Special Defense Acquisition Fund, which is under the control of the Defense Department, to buy weapons and defense services for foreign countries. Section 7083: The United States will contribute over $3.8 billion to the International Development Association, a branch of the World Bank that provides loans and grants to "boost economic growth" in poor countries. It's our 17th contribution. Over $1.3 billion will be for State Department security. Over $7.6 billion for the War on Terror. $1.5 billion for Ebola "assistance for countries affected by, or at risk of being affected by, the Ebola virus disease outbreak." Division K Transportation $500 million for national transportation infrastructure, including highway, bridge, rail, port, and public transportations projects. $9.7 billion: For the Federal Aviation Administration. $8.6 billion is from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund so the taxpayer subsidy for air travel is $1.1 billion. $40 billion for the highway trust fund. Section 133: Prohibits enforcement of regulations until September 30, 2015. The regulations delayed say: Commercial drivers must not work for 34 consecutive hours between weeks and that 34 hours must include two periods from 1am to 5am. Commercial drivers must not drive more than 60 hours in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. Truckers will be able to drive for 82 hours per week. Article: The Department of Transportation wants truckers to sleep more. Congress said no. by Lydia DePillis. Washington Post. December 2014. Article: Survey Shows Hours of Service Top Trucking Concern. Trucking Info. October 2014. OpenSecrets: Senator Susan Collins of Maine inserted the rider on behalf of the trucking industry. She received $21,000 from the trucking industry for the 2014 election. The trucking industry also gave $87,150 to Senator Mitch McConnell, the new Majority Leader in the Senate. $250 million for Amtrak operations. $1.1 billion for Amtrak investments and improvements. Housing Section 235 Forbids funding for a program that reduces mortgage rates for first time home buyers who go through home counseling and financial education. Section 420 "It is the sense of Congress that the Congress should not pass any legislation that authorizes spending cuts that would increase poverty in the United States." Division L Homeland Security Funding for the Department of Homeland Security remains at the same levels as 2014. Funding runs out on February 27, 2015. Article: With Shutdown Avoided, Who Are Winners (And Losers) In 2015 Budget? by Kelly Phillips, Forbes, December 2014. Division M Expatriate Health Coverage This section includes the altered text of HR 4414, the Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act of 2014, which was discussed on Congressional Dish episode CD075: The April Bills. Exempts expatriate health plans issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2015 from the minimum standards set by the Affordable Care Act. "Expatriate" includes people from foreign countries working in the United States as part of a job transfer. The effects of this on the PAYGO budget will not be counted. The original version of this bill was written by Rep. John Carney of Delaware, who has taken over $312,000 from the insurance industry. Division N Campaign Contributions In May, as discussed on Congressional Dish episode CD071: Our New Laws, the President signed into law the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which eliminated public financing of political party conventions. Section 101: Creates three separate funds for political parties, at least triples the amount of money an individual can contribute to each of these new funds, and eliminates limits on how the parties can spend the money. We don't know exactly how much individuals will be able to contribute to political parties now that this provision is law. NPR has a different number than the Washington Post, which has a different number than The New York Times. Congressional Dish calculations indicate that the changes will allow an individual to contribute at least $257,400 per year and that amount increases every two years based on the Consumer Price Index. Division O Pensions Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), pensions for retiree's who have already started to collect benefits can't be cut unless a company goes into bankruptcy. This section changes the law to allow benefit cuts to multi-employer pension plans under other scenarios. Section 102: Allows a multi-employer pension plan to be labeled in "critical status" five years before it's projected to actually meet critical status criteria, if the plan sponsor chooses to label it that way. Department of Labor list of Multi-Employer Plans listed as "critical status" Section 106: After certifying that a plan is in critical status, a "funding improvement plan" must be crafted, and benefits cannot be cut nor new people excluded during this time. Section 121: Allows the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to merge two or more multi-employer pension plans and allows the PBGC to give cash to the plans. Section 122: Multi-employer plans can be broken up if they've cut all the benefits allowed and need to do so to remain solvent. Section 131: Increases the premium rate for multi-employer plans from $12 to $26 in 2015 and then some complicated amount tied to the national average wage index after that. Section 201: Allows benefits to be cut when a plan is in "critical and declining status", which means the plan is in critical status and projected to become insolvent within the next 15 years. For plans with over 10,000 participants, one participant - selected by the plan sponsor - will advocate on behalf of all the retired participants. The following conditions need to be met in order to suspend benefits: The plan needs to certify that it will avoid insolvency. The plan needs to certify that it will become insolvent if it doesn't cut benefits. Limits on benefit suspensions Monthly benefits can't be reduced below 110% of what would be guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, which is approximately $1,180 for participants in multi-employer plans. People over 75 are exempted from the benefit cuts. Disability benefits can't be cut. Eleven different factors will determine how much each participant's benefits would be cut. Benefits will be cut first for employees that worked for companies that withdrew from the plan and failed to pay. Benefits can't be cut until the plan sponsor submits can application to the Secretary of the Treasury and notifies plan participants, employers, and employee organizations. The notice can be in electronic form. Process for cutting benefits: The plan sponsor must submit an application to the Secretary of the Treasury for approval to suspend benefits. Within 30 days of receiving the application, the Secretary of the Treasury will solicit comments from employers, employee organizations, and participants on the website of the Secretary of the Treasury. If the Secretary of the Treasury does not approve or deny the application within 225 days, the application will be deemed approved. Within 30 days of the application's approval, participants and beneficiaries must vote on whether or not to cut benefits. Majority rules. If the participants vote not to cut benefits, the Secretary of Treasury can label the plan a "systemically important plan" and allow benefits to be cut even though the participants voted no. Access to the courts is limited: A court reviewing a lawsuit challenging a benefit cut can only grant a temporary injunction if the plaintiffs will probably win. A participant in a pension plan can not challenge a benefit cut in court. OpenSecrets: Rep. John Kline has taken over $14 million in campaign contributions from all kinds of industries. OpenSecrets: Former Rep. George Miller took over $2.4 million from unions, that we know of. Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio) Blame the Bankers by The Sharp Things (found on Music Alley by mevio) Growing Marijuana Song by Ben Scales Be Heard Have something to say? Leave a message on the Congressional Dish voicemail line and it might be featured on the show! 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Scott Abrams held leadership positions at the Open Society Foundations for over a decade. As a part of the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative, he designed and oversaw hundreds of projects around the world focused on decentralization, citizen participation, good governance and local economic development. Prior to that, he worked at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations and in the private sector. Today, Scott advises donor agencies, private foundations, universities, chambers of commerce and non-profit organizations on strategy formulation, management, advocacy and communications. Scott studied European and African History, International Relations, and Trade and Development Policy.

The Lauterpacht Centre for International Law (LCIL), University of Cambridge hosts a regular Friday lunchtime lecture series on key areas of International Law. Previous subjects have included UN peacekeeping operations, the advisory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the crime of agression, whaling, children and military tribunals, and theories and practices for proving individual responsibility criminal responsibility for genocide and crimes against humanity. This lecture, entitled 'Dual Attribution: Liability of the Netherlands for the Removal of Individuals from the Compound of Dutchbat', was delivered at the Lauterpacht Centre on Friday 4th November 2011 by Professor André Nollkaemper, Professor of International Law, University of Amsterdam. For more information about the series, please see the LCIL website at www.lcil.cam.ac.uk

Jean-Marie Guehenno, 2000-2008 Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations at the UN discusses global conflicts during his tenure.